SB282 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim McClendon

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Midwives, State Board of Midwifery, established, licensure and regulation, penalties, Secs. 34-19-11 to 34-19-19, inclusive, added; Secs. 22-9A-7, 34-43-3 am'd; Secs. 34-19-2 to 34-19-10, inclusive, repealed

Summary

SB282 creates a State Board of Midwifery to license and regulate certified professional midwives, replaces current midwifery licensing, and sets new rules for practice and related processes.

What This Bill Does

The bill establishes a seven-member State Board of Midwifery to license and regulate certified professional midwives, with specific categories of board members and terms. It defines Licensed Midwife and Midwifery, sets licensing requirements, fees, practice guidelines, and penalties for violations, and requires rules to govern education, scope of practice, and professional conduct. It repeals existing midwifery licensing provisions and amends related birth-certificate and health-services statutes, including requirements for disclosures, informed consent, emergency planning, and data reporting. It also clarifies scope-of-practice limits, requires liability insurance when affordable, and protects certain board activities under confidentiality and sunset provisions.

Who It Affects

• Certified professional midwives who would be licensed and regulated by the new State Board of Midwifery, including education, testing, fees, and ongoing discipline.
• Birth parents and newborns who receive midwifery care, as the bill adds disclosure/informed consent requirements, care planning, transfer of care provisions, birth-certificate filing rules, and data reporting related to midwifery services.

Key Provisions

• Creates the State Board of Midwifery with seven governor-appointed members, including four certified professional midwives, one licensed physician, one licensed nurse midwife or registered nurse, and one member who has used midwifery services; sets initial term lengths and staggered terms.
• Defines Midwifery and Licensed Midwife, and establishes licensing procedures, education requirements, and permissible scope of practice for licensed midwives.
• Authorizes licensing fees, renewal, and reinstatement processes; allows administrative fines up to $1,000 per violation; requires professional liability insurance when affordable.
• Mandates rules to implement the chapter, including risk assessment standards, professional conduct, internship/education standards, and liability insurance requirements; emphasizes independent practice with allowed collaboration.
• Imposes specific practice restrictions on licensed midwives (e.g., no epidural/anesthesia, narcotics, forceps/vacuum delivery, abortion, cesarean sections; no delivery of non-cephalic or multiple pregnancies at onset of labor).
• Requires midwife disclosure and informed consent forms, emergency care planning, transfer of care protocols, and eye ointment/newborn screening instructions; mandates birth-certificate filing and data submission to the board.
• Provides that non-licensed individuals cannot practice midwifery for remuneration, with limited exceptions for CNMs under existing statutes, training under a licensed midwife, or gratuitous assistance.
• Repeals existing midwifery sections (34-19-2 to 34-19-10) and places midwifery licensing under the new Chapters 34-19-11 to 34-19-19; makes related amendments to birth certificate and massage therapy definitions.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Midwives