S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9182
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                May 2, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. STAVISKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
 
 AN ACT to amend the education  law,  in  relation  to  the  professional
   certification of doulas
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new article 169 to
 read as follows:
                                 ARTICLE 169
                             CERTIFIED DOULAS
 SECTION 8875. DEFINITIONS.
         8876. USE OF TITLE.
         8877. CERTIFICATE.
         8878. REQUIREMENTS FOR A PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION.
         8879. SCOPE OF PRACTICE.
   § 8875. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS SECTION:
   1. "CERTIFIED DOULA" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL CERTIFIED UNDER THIS  ARTICLE
 WHO PROVIDES CERTIFIED DOULA SERVICES.
   2.  "CERTIFIED DOULA SERVICES" MEANS CONTINUOUS EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL
 SUPPORT PROVIDED BY A CERTIFIED DOULA THROUGHOUT LABOR  AND  BIRTH,  AND
 INTERMITTENTLY DURING THE PRENATAL AND POSTPARTUM PERIODS.
   § 8876. USE OF TITLE. ONLY A PERSON CERTIFIED UNDER THIS ARTICLE SHALL
 BE AUTHORIZED TO USE THE TITLE "CERTIFIED DOULA".
   §  8877.  CERTIFICATE. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ISSUE A CERTIFICATE AS A
 CERTIFIED DOULA TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO APPLIES FOR CERTIFICATION  AND  WHO
 QUALIFIES UNDER SECTION EIGHTY-EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTY-EIGHT OF THIS ARTI-
 CLE.
   § 8878. REQUIREMENTS FOR A PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION. TO BE CERTIFIED
 UNDER  THIS  ARTICLE,  AN APPLICANT SHALL FULFILL THE FOLLOWING REQUIRE-
 MENTS:
   1. APPLICATION: FILE AN APPLICATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
   2. EDUCATION: SHALL HAVE ATTAINED A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, OR THE EQUIV-
 ALENT, AND SATISFACTORILY:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD15257-01-4
              

 S. 9182                             2
 
   (A) COMPLETE AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, IN ACCORDANCE  WITH  THE  COMMIS-
 SIONER'S REGULATIONS; OR
   (B)  SUBMIT EVIDENCE OF CERTIFICATION, THE EDUCATIONAL PREPARATION FOR
 WHICH IS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO BE EQUIVALENT TO THE FOREGOING,
 FROM ANY STATE OR COUNTRY, SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT AND IN ACCORD-
 ANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS.
   3. EXAMINATION: PASS AN EXAMINATION SATISFACTORY TO THE DEPARTMENT AND
 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS.
   4. AGE: BE AT LEAST EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.
   5. CHARACTER: BE OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER AS DETERMINED BY THE  DEPART-
 MENT.
   6. FEE: PAY A FEE OF FORTY DOLLARS TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR CONSIDERATION
 OF AN APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION.
   §  8879.  SCOPE OF PRACTICE. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL AUTHORIZE A
 CERTIFIED DOULA TO ENGAGE IN ANY ACT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF ANY
 OTHER PROFESSION UNDER THIS TITLE OR ANY OTHER LAW, UNLESS THE CERTIFIED
 DOULA WOULD BE OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED TO DO SO BY LAW.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
 repeal  of  any  rule  or regulation necessary for the implementation of
 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made  and  completed
 on or before such effective date.