NY State Senate Bill S5992A

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate

Introduced
In Committee
On Floor Calendar
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
Delivered to Governor
Signed/Vetoed by Governor

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Actions

view actions (9)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 31, 2023	referred to health delivered to assembly passed senate
May 30, 2023	advanced to third reading
May 24, 2023	2nd report cal.
May 23, 2023	1st report cal.1262
May 18, 2023	print number 5992a
May 18, 2023	amend (t) and recommit to women's issues
Mar 24, 2023	referred to women's issues

Votes

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

Original

A (Active)

Co-Sponsors

S5992 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A6168
Current Committee:: Assembly Health
Law Section:: Public Health Law
Laws Affected:: Add §2500-m, Pub Health L

S5992 - Summary

Requires maternal health care facilities provide expecting and new mothers access to their doulas.

S5992 - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S5992

SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to permitting expect-
ing and new mothers' access to their doulas and requiring maternal
health care facilities provide a directory of available doulas

 
PURPOSE:

Allows pregnant persons to designate a doula to have full access to
themselves and their newborn infant throughout a maternal health facili-
ty.

Requires all maternal health facilities to include a directory of prac-
ticing doulas on their website, to be posted throughout the facilities
and translated in the six most common languages in the region.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the public health law by adding a new section that

requires maternal health facilities to allow a pregnant person and their
newborn infant full access to their designated doula throughout the
facility.

Section 2 requires all maternal health care facilities to post a direc-
tory of practicing doulas on their websites and in their facilities, to
be translated in the six most common languages in the region.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Doulas provide non-clinical evidence-based practices that have been
proven to generate healthier outcomes for both a birthing person and
their child. They have proven to be an effective strategy in addressing
racial disparities in maternal healthcare by reducing severe maternal
morbidity and mortality. Yet, lack of awareness and access to doula
services contribute to underuse of this important resource.

A 2021 report by the NYC Department of Health found that doulas face
barriers to providing services in hospital settings, such as requests to
prove their training and/or certification (neither of which are required
in New York State) and inability to see their clients postpartum. Ensur-
ing pregnant persons and their child have access to their designated
doula throughout maternal health facilities has been shown to mitigate
stressors that influence birth outcomes.

The presence of a doula can empower a pregnant person to make informed
decisions and facilitate communication with healthcare providers.  They
also provide support and peace of mind in caring for the birthing
person's child once they are born. Providing a directory of doulas
allows maternal health facilities to mitigate disparities in maternal
healthcare by raising awareness of this service and making it more wide-
ly accessible.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

S5992 - Bill Text download pdf

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5992
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 24, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. PERSAUD, ADDABBO, FERNANDEZ, SEPULVEDA -- read twice
   and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee
   on Women's Issues
 
 AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to permitting expect-
   ing  and  new  mothers'  access to their doulas and requiring maternal
   health care facilities provide a directory of available doulas
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.   The public health law is amended by adding a new section
 2500-l to read as follows:
   § 2500-L. ACCESS TO DOULAS. 1. WHEN A PERSON IS ADMITTED TO A MATERNAL
 HEALTH CARE FACILITY FOR DELIVERY AND/OR INPATIENT  CARE  POST-DELIVERY,
 SUCH PERSON MAY DESIGNATE A DOULA TO HAVE ACCESS TO SUCH PERSON AND SUCH
 PERSON'S  NEWBORN  INFANTS.  THE MATERNAL HEALTH CARE FACILITY SHALL NOT
 DENY SUCH PERSON ACCESS TO SUCH PERSON'S DESIGNATED DOULA  NOR  SHALL  A
 MATERNAL  HEALTH  CARE  FACILITY  DENY A DESIGNATED DOULA ACCESS TO SUCH
 PERSON OR SUCH PERSON'S NEWBORN INFANT REGARDLESS OF WHERE  SUCH  PERSON
 OR SUCH PERSON'S NEWBORN INFANT IS IN THE MATERNAL HEALTH CARE FACILITY.
 FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "MATERNAL HEALTH CARE FACILI-
 TY"  SHALL  MEAN  A  HOSPITAL  OR FREESTANDING BIRTHING CENTER PROVIDING
 PERINATAL SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE TWENTY-EIGHT OF THIS CHAP-
 TER AND APPLICABLE REGULATIONS.
   2. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REQUIRE ALL MATERNAL HEALTH CARE FACILITIES TO
 INCLUDE A DIRECTORY OF PRACTICING DOULAS ON THEIR WEBSITES. SUCH  DIREC-
 TORY  SHALL  INCLUDE,  BUT  IS  NOT LIMITED TO, CONTACT INFORMATION, ANY
 CREDENTIALS HELD, LANGUAGES SPOKEN,  INSURANCE  ACCEPTED,  AND  SERVICES
 PROVIDED. THE INFORMATION SHALL BE:
   (A) POSTED ON THE HOSPITAL'S WEBSITE AS A PRINTABLE FILE;
   (B)  AVAILABLE  IN EACH PATIENT WAITING ROOM AS A PRINTED DELIVERABLE;
 AND
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10180-02-3
 S. 5992                             2

 
   (C) WRITTEN IN LAYPERSON'S LANGUAGE AND SHALL  BE  MADE  AVAILABLE  IN
 ENGLISH AND THE SIX MOST COMMON NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGES SPOKEN BY INDIVID-
 UALS  WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY IN NEW YORK STATE AS BASED ON THE
 MOST RECENT CENSUS.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.

Co-Sponsors

S5992A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A6168
Current Committee:: Assembly Health
Law Section:: Public Health Law
Laws Affected:: Add §2500-m, Pub Health L

S5992A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires maternal health care facilities provide expecting and new mothers access to their doulas.

S5992A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S5992A

SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to permitting expect-
ing and new mothers' access to their doulas

 
PURPOSE:

Allows a pregnant person to designate a doula to have full access to
themselves in a maternal healthcare facility during delivery and/or
inpatient care post-delivery.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the public health law by adding a new section that
requires maternal health facilities to allow a pregnant person a full
access to their designated doula during delivery and/or inpatient care
post-delivery.

Section 2 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Doulas provide non-clinical evidence-based practices that have been
proven to generate healthier outcomes for both a birthing person and
their child. They have proven to be an effective strategy in addressing
racial disparities in maternal healthcare by reducing severe maternal
morbidity and mortality. Yet, lack of awareness and access to doula
services contribute to underuse of this important resource.

A 2021 report by the NYC Department of Health found that doulas face
barriers to providing services in hospital settings, such as requests to
prove their training and/or certification (neither of which are required
in New York State) and inability to see their clients postpartum. Ensur-
ing pregnant persons and their child have access to their designated
doula throughout maternal health facilities has been shown to mitigate
stressors that influence birth outcomes.  The presence of a doula can
empower a pregnant person to make informed decisions and facilitate
communication with healthcare providers.  They also provide support and
peace of mind in caring for the birthing person's child once they are
born. Providing a directory of doulas allows maternal health facilities
to mitigate disparities in maternal healthcare by raising awareness of
this service and making it more widely accessible.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

S5992A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  5992--A
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 24, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. PERSAUD, ADDABBO, FERNANDEZ, SEPULVEDA -- read twice
   and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee
   on  Women's  Issues  --  committee  discharged,  bill amended, ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to permitting expect-
   ing and new mothers' access to their doulas
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.   The public health law is amended by adding a new section
 2500-m to read as follows:
   § 2500-M. ACCESS TO DOULAS. WHEN A PERSON IS ADMITTED  TO  A  MATERNAL
 HEALTH  CARE  FACILITY FOR DELIVERY AND/OR INPATIENT CARE POST-DELIVERY,
 SUCH PERSON MAY DESIGNATE A DOULA TO HAVE ACCESS  TO  SUCH  PERSON.  THE
 MATERNAL  HEALTH CARE FACILITY SHALL NOT DENY SUCH PERSON ACCESS TO SUCH
 PERSON'S DESIGNATED DOULA.  FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION,  THE  TERM
 "MATERNAL  HEALTH  CARE  FACILITY" SHALL MEAN A HOSPITAL OR FREESTANDING
 BIRTHING CENTER PROVIDING PERINATAL SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH  ARTICLE
 TWENTY-EIGHT OF THIS CHAPTER AND APPLICABLE REGULATIONS.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10180-03-3

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The New York State Senate

senate Bill S5992A

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

May 31, 2023 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: May 31, 2023

May 23, 2023 - Women's Issues committee Vote

Women's Issues Committee Vote: May 23, 2023

Bill Amendments

Co-Sponsors

S5992 - Details

S5992 - Summary

S5992 - Sponsor Memo

S5992 - Bill Text download pdf

Co-Sponsors

S5992A (ACTIVE) - Details

S5992A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S5992A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S5992A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

senate Bill S5992A

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

May 31, 2023 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: May 31, 2023

May 23, 2023 - Women's Issues committee Vote

Women's Issues Committee Vote: May 23, 2023

Bill Amendments

Co-Sponsors

S5992 - Details

S5992 - Summary

S5992 - Sponsor Memo

S5992 - Bill Text download pdf

Co-Sponsors

S5992A (ACTIVE) - Details

S5992A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S5992A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S5992A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments