Bill Text: NJ A2028 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires certain health care facilities to develop certain doula policies and procedures.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-01-09 - Withdrawn Because Approved P.L.2023, c.286. [A2028 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A2028-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
Assemblywoman SHAVONDA E. SUMTER
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Requires certain health care facilities to develop certain doula policies and procedures.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning doulas and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Health.
"Birthing center" means a birthing center licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.).
"Doula" means a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a mother before, during, and after labor and childbirth, to help her to achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.
"Hospital" means every general or special hospital licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.) that provides maternity services.
b. Each hospital and birthing center shall, commencing no later than the 180th day after the effective date of this act, adopt and maintain written policies and procedures authorizing a patient to select a doula of the patient's choice to accompany the patient within the facility's premises for the purposes of providing support before, during, and after labor and childbirth.
c. Each hospital and birthing center shall provide a written copy of the policies and procedures adopted pursuant to subsection b. of this section to:
(1) each health care provider providing maternity services at the facility;
(2) each patient receiving maternity services at the facility; and
(3) any other person, at the request of the patient.
d. Each hospital and birthing center shall post a summary of the facility's policies and procedures adopted pursuant to subsection b. of this section on the facility's Internet website.
e. Each hospital and birthing center shall designate a staff member to serve as a liaison between the facility and doulas and doula organizations in order to provide information concerning the facility's policies and procedures adopted pursuant to subsection b. of this section.
2. The Commissioner of Health may adopt rules and regulations in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L. 1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) as the commissioner deems necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.
3. This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires hospitals that provide maternity services and birthing centers licensed in this State to adopt and maintain written policies and procedures authorizing a patient to select a doula of the patient's choice to accompany the patient within the facility's premises for the purposes of providing support before, during, and after labor and childbirth.
Under the provisions of the bill, each hospital and birthing center will be required to provide a written copy of those policies and procedures to: each health care provider providing maternity services at the facility; each patient receiving maternity services at the facility; and any other person, at the request of the patient.
Each hospital and birthing center will be required to post a summary of the facility's policies and procedures adopted pursuant to the bill on the facility's Internet website.
Each hospital and birthing center will designate a staff member to serve as a liaison between the facility and doulas and doula organizations in order to provide information concerning the facility's policies and procedures adopted pursuant to the bill.
