HB344 Alabama 2017 Session

Under existing law, nurse midwives who are licensed by the State Board of Nursing and the Board of Medical Examiners may practice nurse midwifery

This bill would create the Safe Birth Options Act

This bill would create a State Board of Registration for Lay Midwifery and provide for its powers and duties

This bill would authorize lay midwives who are registered with the State Board of Registration for Lay Midwifery to assist with deliveries at birthing centers in certain circumstances

This bill would provide training, examination, and other qualifications necessary to register as a lay midwife

This bill would provide criminal penalties for violations

This bill would provide civil immunity to a physician, health care practitioner, or hospital that receives or treats a mother, unborn child, or child after the use of services of a lay midwife

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

Relating to lay midwives; to create the Safe Birth Options Act; to designate as Article 1 Sections 34-19-1 to 34-19-10, inclusive, Code of Alabama 1975; to add a new Article 2, consisting of Sections 19-34-30 to 19-34-40, inclusive, to Title 34, Chapter 19 of the Code of Alabama 1975; to create a State Board of Registration for Lay Midwifery and provide for its powers and duties; to authorize lay midwives who are registered with the State Board of Registration for Lay Midwifery to assist with deliveries at birthing centers in certain circumstances; to provide training, examination, and other qualifications necessary to register as a lay midwife; to provide criminal penalties for violations; to provide civil immunity to a physician, health care practitioner, or hospital that receives or treats a mother, unborn child, or child after the use of services of a lay midwife; to amend Section 22-9A-7, Code of Alabama 1975; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.