Assembly Bill A3508

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   3508
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 28, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN, DAVILA, LUCAS -- read once and
   referred to the Committee on Health
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the public health law, in relation to doula friendly
   work spaces
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  Legislative  findings.  The legislature acknowledges that
 doulas face exclusionary measures in  gaining  recognition  and  overall
 integration  within the maternal health continuum, such as hospitals and
 birthing centers. The legislature declares that the purpose of this  act
 is  to study and report on the integration of doula care and services in
 the healthcare continuum and to recommend best  practices  to  designate
 doula friendly spaces in New York state.
   § 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2803-j-1
 to read as follows:
   § 2803-J-1. DESIGNATING DOULA FRIENDLY SPACES STUDY. 1. THE DEPARTMENT
 SHALL  CONDUCT  A STUDY TO EXAMINE AND EVALUATE CURRENT PRACTICES ON THE
 INTEGRATION  OF  DOULA  CARE,  SERVICES,  AND  SUPPORT  WITHIN  BIRTHING
 CENTERS, HOSPITALS, AND OTHER HEALTHCARE DELIVERY FACILITIES. THIS STUDY
 SHALL  REPORT  SUCH  FINDINGS  THROUGH  COMPREHENSIVE  METRICS  ON DOULA
 FRIENDLINESS IN FACILITIES ACROSS THE GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY OF THE  STATE
 THAT  ARE  LICENSED  UNDER  THIS  ARTICLE.    FACTORS  AND METRICS TO BE
 REPORTED BY THE STUDY SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A) IDENTIFYING AND ENGAGING WITH DOULA LED AND CENTERED ORGANIZATIONS
 ON THEIR CURRENT PROGRAMS REGARDING DOULA INTEGRATION;
   (B) IDENTIFYING HOSPITALS AND BIRTHING CENTERS THAT ARE DOULA FRIENDLY
 IN THEIR OPERATION;
   (C) IDENTIFYING SUCCESSFUL DOULA INTEGRATION PROGRAMS AND  INITIATIVES
 IN HOSPITALS AND BIRTHING CENTERS IN NEW YORK STATE; AND
   (D)  IDENTIFYING SUCCESSFUL DOULA INTEGRATION PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES
 IN OTHER STATES.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07224-01-5
              

 A. 3508                             2
 
   2. THE STUDY SHALL ALSO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON BEST PRACTICES FOR THE
 STATE TO HELP FACILITATE DOULA INTEGRATION  AND  DOULA  FRIENDLINESS  IN
 HOSPITALS  AND BIRTHING CENTERS. SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS SHALL INCLUDE, BUT
 NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A)  BEST  PRACTICES THAT DOULAS CURRENTLY OPERATING IN NEW YORK STATE
 RECOMMEND FOR PROPER INTEGRATION;
   (B) CRITERIA FOR HOSPITALS AND BIRTHING  CENTERS  FOR  INTEGRATION  OF
 DOULAS AND DOULA CARE INTO THE VARYING PROCESSES OF BIRTH;
   (C)  CRITERIA  FOR HOW THE STATE SHOULD BEST SUPPORT THE FORMAL DESIG-
 NATION OF DOULA FRIENDLY PLACES;
   (D) CRITERIA FOR HOW HOSPITALS AND BIRTHING CENTERS SHALL GIVE  DOULAS
 VISITOR STATUS OR EQUAL STATUS IN THE FACILITIES;
   (E) CRITERIA FOR DOULA PRESENCE IN THE BIRTHING ROOM;
   (F) CRITERIA FOR INCLUSION OF DOULAS IN THE HEALTHCARE CONTINUUM;
   (G)  BEST  PRACTICES AND CRITERIA FOR THE COLLECTION OF DATA REGARDING
 DOULA FRIENDLINESS AND INTEGRATION; AND
   (H) BEST PRACTICES FOR THE REPORTING OF METRICS FOR DOULA FRIENDLINESS
 AND INTEGRATION.
   3. ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SEVEN,  THE
 DEPARTMENT  SHALL  SUBMIT  A  FINAL  REPORT  CONTAINING ALL FINDINGS AND
 RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE  SENATE,
 AND THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY.
   §  3.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
 have become a law.