THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2569

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HOME BIRTH.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  There is established the home birth task force within the department of health.  The task force shall be composed of nineteen members to be appointed by the governor no later than July 1, 2014, in consultation with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Nurse-Midwives, certified professional midwife associations, lay midwife associations, and traditional cultural practitioners, as follows:

     (1)  Three traditional cultural home birth practitioners;

     (2)  Three members of the public who have given birth at home;

     (3)  Three certified professional midwives, to be selected in consultation with the certified professional midwife associations;

     (4)  Two naturopathic home birth practitioners, to be selected in consultation with the board of naturopathic medicine;

     (5)  Three nurse-midwives, to be selected in consultation with the American College of Nurse-Midwives;

     (6)  Three physicians, two of whom are obstetricians/gynecologists, to be selected in consultation with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and one of whom is a neonatologist, to be selected in consultation with Hawaii Pacific Health Neonatology Group;

     (7)  One representative from the Healthcare Association of Hawaii; and

     (8)  The director of health, or the director's designee.

     (b)  The task force shall be convened by the director of health, or the director's designee.  The task force shall convene no less than once a month, shall include neighbor island representation, and may designate subcommittees to formulate recommendations.

     (c)  Issues to be addressed for recommendations to the legislature may include but not be limited to:

     (1)  Home birth standards of care that will enhance patient safety and interdisciplinary collaboration, including successful models from other states;

     (2)  Licensure requirements for each discipline;

     (3)  Standards for patient history requirements for home births;

     (4)  Standards for assessment of potential complications during home births;

     (5)  Definitions of high risk pregnancies;

     (6)  Emergency transfer protocols;

     (7)  Questions regarding informed consent;

     (8)  Recommendations on liability; and

     (9)  Review of infant mortality and maternal mortality data and patterns in the State of Hawaii.

     (d)  The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2015.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the convening and operations of the home birth task force.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.



 

Report Title:

Home Birth Task Force; Home Birth Providers; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes the home birth task force to address issues related to home birth safety.  Requires the task force to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2015.  Makes an appropriation.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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