BOARD OF LICENSED MIDWIVES

HB0095a -1- HB 95
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-LS0198\N

HOUSE BILL NO. 95

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION

BY REPRESENTATIVE ALLARD

Introduced: 2/12/25
Referred: Health and Social Services, Labor and Commerce

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to midwives and the practice of midwifery; rel ating to apprentice 1
midwives; renaming the Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives as the Board of 2
Licensed Midwives; relating to the Board of Licensed Midwives; extending the 3
termination date of the Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives; relating to insurance; 4
and providing for an effective date." 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 6
* Section 1. The uncodified law of the State o f Alaska is amended by adding a new section 7
to read: 8
LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the legislature to pres erve the right of 9
women to deliver children at home with licensed midwives, to re move obstacles for safe 10
deliveries outside of hospitals, to ensure quality care of pregnant women and the children they 11
deliver, and to guarantee that th e practice of midwifery by a l icensed midwife is covered by 12
insurance regardless of the location where the care is received. 13
34-LS0198\N
HB 95 -2- HB0095a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

* Sec. 2. AS 08.01.010(17) is amended to read: 1
(17) Board of Licensed [CERTIFIED DIRECT-ENTRY] Midwives 2
(AS 08.65.010); 3
* Sec. 3. AS 08.02.110(a), as amended by sec. 1, ch. 44, SLA 2024, is amended to read: 4
(a) An acupuncturist licensed under AS 08.06, an audiologist o r speech-5
language pathologist licensed under AS 08.11, a behavior analys t licensed under 6
AS 08.15, a person licensed in the state as a chiropractor unde r AS 08.20, a 7
professional or associate counselor licensed under AS 08.29, a dentist under AS 08.36, 8
a dietitian or nutritionist li censed under AS 08.38, a massage therapist licensed under 9
AS 08.61, a marital and family th erapist licensed under AS 08.6 3, a medical 10
practitioner or osteopath under AS 08.64, a licensed [DIRECT-ENTRY] midwife 11
[CERTIFIED] under AS 08.65, a registered or advanced practice r egistered nurse 12
under AS 08.68, an optometrist under AS 08.72, a licensed pharm acist under 13
AS 08.80, a physical therapist or occupational therapist licens ed under AS 08.84, a 14
psychologist under AS 08.86, or a clinical social worker licens ed under AS 08.95, 15
shall use as professional identification appropriate letters or a title after that person's 16
name that represents the person's specific field of practice. T he letters or title shall 17
appear on all signs, stationery, or other advertising in which the person offers or 18
displays personal professional services to the public. In addit ion, a person engaged in 19
the practice of medicine or osteopathy as defined in AS 08.64.3 80, or a person 20
engaged in any manner in the healing arts who diagnoses, treats , tests, or counsels 21
other persons in relation to human health or disease and uses t he letters "M.D." or the 22
title "doctor" or "physician" or another title that tends to sh ow that the person is 23
willing or qualified to diagnose, treat, test, or counsel anoth er person, shall clarify the 24
letters or title by adding the appropriate specialist designati on, if any, such as 25
"dermatologist," "radiologist," "audiologist," "naturopath," or the like. 26
* Sec. 4. AS 08.02.130(j)(1), as amended by sec. 2, ch. 44, SLA 2024, is amended to read: 27
(1) "health care provider" means 28
(A) an audiologist or speech-language pathologist licensed 29
under AS 08.11; a behavior analyst licensed under AS 08.15; a c hiropractor 30
licensed under AS 08.20; a professi onal or associate counselor licensed under 31
34-LS0198\N
HB0095a -3- HB 95
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

AS 08.29; a dental hygienist licensed under AS 08.32; a dentist licensed under 1
AS 08.36; a dietitian or nutritionist licensed under AS 08.38; a naturopath 2
licensed under AS 08.45; a marital and family therapist license d under 3
AS 08.63; a physician licensed under AS 08.64; a podiatrist, os teopath, or 4
physician assistant licensed under AS 08.64; a licensed [DIRECT-ENTRY] 5
midwife [CERTIFIED] under AS 08.65; a nurse licensed under AS 0 8.68; a 6
dispensing optician licensed under AS 08.71; an optometrist lic ensed under 7
AS 08.72; a pharmacist licensed under AS 08.80; a physical ther apist or 8
occupational therapist licensed under AS 08.84; a psychologist or 9
psychological associate license d under AS 08.86; or a social wo rker licensed 10
under AS 08.95; 11
(B) a physician licensed in another state; or 12
(C) a member of a multidisciplinary care team who is licensed 13
in another state; 14
* Sec. 5. AS 08.03.010(c)(8) is amended to read: 15
(8) Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives (AS 08.65.010) - 16
June 30, 2031 [2025]; 17
* Sec. 6. AS 08.03.010(c)(8), as amended by sec. 5 of this Act, is amended to read: 18
(8) Board of Licensed [CERTIFIED DIRECT-ENTRY] Midwives 19
(AS 08.65.010) - June 30, 2031; 20
* Sec. 7. AS 08.64.370 is amended to read: 21
Sec. 08.64.370. Exceptions to application of chapter. This chapter does not 22
apply to 23
(1) officers in the regular medical service of the armed servi ces of the 24
United States or the United States Public Health Service while in the discharge of their 25
official duties; 26
(2) a physician or osteopath licensed in another state who is asked by a 27
physician or osteopath licensed in this state to help in the di agnosis or treatment of a 28
case, unless the physician is practicing under AS 08.02.130(b); 29
(3) the practice of the religious tenets of a church; 30
(4) a physician in the regular medical service of the United S tates 31
34-LS0198\N
HB 95 -4- HB0095a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

Public Health Service or the armed services of the United State s volunteering services 1
without pay or other remunerati on to a hospital, clinic, medica l office, or other 2
medical facility in the state; 3
(5) a person who is a licensed [CERTIFIED AS A DIRECT-ENTRY] 4
midwife [BY THE DEPARTMENT] under AS 08.65 while engaged in the practice of 5
midwifery whether or not the person accepts compensation for those services; 6
(6) a physician licensed in another state who, under a written 7
agreement with an athletic team located in the state in which t he physician is licensed, 8
provides medical services to members of the athletic team while the athletic team is 9
traveling to or from or participating in a sporting event in this state. 10
* Sec. 8. AS 08.65.010(a) is amended to read: 11
(a) There is established the Board of Licensed [CERTIFIED DIRECT-12
ENTRY] Midwives. 13
* Sec. 9. AS 08.65.010(b) is amended to read: 14
(b) The board consists of five members appointed by the govern or subject to 15
confirmation by the legislature in joint session. Members serve for staggered terms of 16
four years, and, except as provided in AS 39.05.080(4), each member serves until a 17
successor is appointed and qualified. The board consists of 18
(1) three [ T W O ] m e m b e r s w h o a r e licensed [CERTIFIED IN THIS 19
STATE AS DIRECT-ENTRY] midwives; 20
(2) [,] one member who is either a 21
(A) physician licensed by the State Medical Board in this state 22
who has an obstetrical practice or has specialized training in obstetrics; or 23
(B) [, ONE] certified nurse midwife licensed by the Board of 24
Nursing in this state; [,] and 25
(3) one public member. 26
* Sec. 10. AS 08.65.030 is amended to read: 27
Sec. 08.65.030. Duties and powers of board. (a) The board shall 28
(1) review applications for a licen se to engage in the practice of 29
midwifery to determine whether the applicant satisfies the requ irements of 30
AS 08.65.050 [EXAMINE APPLICANTS AND ISSUE CERTIFICATES TO THOSE 31
34-LS0198\N
HB0095a -5- HB 95
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

APPLICANTS IT FINDS QUALIFIED]; 1
(2) [ADOPT REGULATIONS ESTABLISHING CERTIFICATION 2
AND CERTIFICATE RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS; 3
(3)] issue permits to apprentice [DIRECT-ENTRY] midwives; 4
(3) [(4)] hold hearings and order the disciplinary sanction of a p erson 5
who violates this chapter or a regulation of the board; 6
(4) [(5)] supply forms for applications, licenses, permits, 7
[CERTIFICATES,] and other papers and records; 8
(5) [(6)] enforce the provisions of this chapter and adopt regulat ions 9
necessary to make the provisions of this chapter effective; 10
(6) [(7) APPROVE CURRICULA AND ADOPT STANDARDS FOR 11
BASIC EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND APPRENTICE PROGRAMS; 12
(8) PROVIDE FOR SURVEYS OF THE BASIC DIRECT-ENTRY 13
MIDWIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE STATE AT THE TIMES IT 14
CONSIDERS NECESSARY; 15
(9) APPROVE EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND APPRENTICE 16
PROGRAMS THAT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS CHAPTER AND OF 17
THE BOARD, AND DENY, REVOKE, OR SUSPEND APPROVAL OF THOSE 18
PROGRAMS FOR FAILURE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS; 19
(10)] adopt regulations establishing 20
(A) licensing requirements that are in accordance with 21
national licensing standards; 22
(B) license renewal requirements; and 23
(C) practice requirements for licensed [CERTIFIED DIRECT-24
ENTRY] midwives under AS 08.65.140(a) [AS 08.65.140]. 25
(b) The board may 26
(1) adopt regulations requiring [BY REGULATION REQUIRE 27
THAT] a licensed [CERTIFIED DIRECT-ENTRY] midwife to undergo a uniform or 28
random period of peer review to ensure the quality of care prov ided by the licensed 29
[CERTIFIED DIRECT-ENTRY] midwife; 30
(2) approve curricula and adopt standards for basic education, 31
34-LS0198\N
HB 95 -6- HB0095a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

training, and apprentice programs; and 1
( 3 ) a p p r o v e e d u c a t i o n , t r a i n i n g , a n d a p p r e n t i c e p r o g r a m s t h a t 2
meet the requirements of this chapter and of the board, and den y, revoke, or 3
suspend approval of those programs for failure to meet the requirements. 4
* Sec. 11. AS 08.65.030 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 5
(c) The board may not adopt a regulation that 6
(1) requires a person to have a nursing degree to be licensed under this 7
chapter; 8
(2) requires a licensed midwife to practice midwifery under th e 9
supervision of, or in collaborati on with, another health care p rovider or a health care 10
facility; 11
(3) requires a licensed midwife to enter into an agreement, wh ether 12
written, oral, or in another form, with another health care pro vider or a health care 13
facility; or 14
(4) limits the location where a licensed midwife may practice 15
midwifery. 16
* Sec. 12. AS 08.65.050 is amended to read: 17
Sec. 08.65.050. Qualifications for license. The board shall issue a license 18
[CERTIFICATE] to practice [DIRECT-ENTRY] midwifery to a person who 19
(1) holds a valid certified professional midwife certificate issued by 20
a nationally recognized midwife organization that is recognized by the board; 21
(2) applies on a form provided by the board; 22
(3) [(2)] pays the fees required under AS 08.65.100; 23
(4) [(3)] furnishes evidence satisfactory to the board that the pe rson 24
has not engaged in conduct that is a ground for imposing discip linary sanctions under 25
AS 08.65.110; 26
(5) [(4)] furnishes evidence [SATISFACTORY] to the board that the 27
person has completed a course of midwifery study and supervised clinical experience; 28
the study and experience must be of at least two years' [ONE YEAR'S] duration; and 29
(6) [(5)] successfully completes the national midwifery examination 30
required by the board. 31
34-LS0198\N
HB0095a -7- HB 95
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

* Sec. 13. AS 08.65.080 is amended to read: 1
Sec. 08.65.080. Renewal. A license [CERTIFICATE] issued under 2
AS 08.65.050 [OR 08.65.070] expires on a date determined by the board and may be 3
renewed every two years upon payment of the required fee and th e submission of 4
evidence satisfactory to the board that the licensed [CERTIFIED DIRECT-ENTRY] 5
midwife holds a valid certified professional midwife certificate issued b y a 6
nationally recognized midwife o rganization that is recognized b y the board, has 7
met the continuing education requi rements of the board, has dem onstrated continued 8
practical professional competence under regulations adopted by the board, and has not 9
committed an act that is a ground for discipline under AS 08.65.110. 10
* Sec. 14. AS 08.65.080 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 11
(b) A person who was issued a license to practice midwifery by the board 12
because the person held a valid certificate to practice direct- entry midwifery under 13
AS 08.65.050 or former AS 08.65.070 on the day before the effec tive date of this 14
section may renew that license in accordance with (a) of this s ection as (a) of this 15
section read on the day before the effective date of sec. 13 of this Act, but is otherwise 16
subject to this chapter. 17
* Sec. 15. AS 08.65.090 is amended to read: 18
Sec. 08.65.090. Apprentice [DIRECT-ENTRY] midwives. (a) The board 19
shall issue a permit to practice as an apprentice [DIRECT-ENTRY ] midwife to a 20
person who satisfies the requirements of AS 08.65.050(2) - (4) [AS 08.65.050(1) - (3)] 21
and who has been accepted into a program of education, training , and apprenticeship 22
approved by the board under AS 08.65.030 and that prepares the apprentice for the 23
national midwifery examination . A permit application under this section must 24
include information the board may require. The permit is valid for a term of two years 25
and may be renewed in accordance with regulations adopted by the board. 26
(b) An apprentice [DIRECT-ENTRY] midwife may perform all the a ctivities 27
of a licensed [CERTIFIED DIRECT-ENTRY] midwife if supervised in a manner 28
prescribed by the board in regulation [BY 29
(1) A CERTIFIED DIRECT-EN TRY MIDWIFE WHO HAS BEEN 30
LICENSED AND PRACTI CING IN THIS STATE FOR AT L EAST TWO YEARS 31
34-LS0198\N
HB 95 -8- HB0095a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

AND HAS ACTED AS A PRIMARY OR ASSISTANT MIDWIFE AT 50 OR 1
MORE BIRTHS SINCE THE DATE THE CERTIFIED DIRECT-ENTRY MIDWIFE 2
WAS FIRST LICENSED; 3
(2) A CERTIFIED DIRECT-EN TRY MIDWIFE WHO HAS BEEN 4
LICENSED FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS IN A STATE WITH LICENSING 5
REQUIREMENTS AT LEAST EQUIVALENT IN SCOPE, QUALITY, AND 6
DIFFICULTY TO THOSE OF THIS STATE AT THE TIME OF LICENSING, HAS 7
PRACTICED MIDWIFERY FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND HAS ACTED 8
AS A PRIMARY OR ASSISTANT MIDWIFE AT 50 OR MORE BIRTHS SINCE 9
THE DATE THE CERTIFIED DIRECT-ENTRY MIDWIFE WAS FIRST 10
LICENSED; 11
(3) A PHYSICIAN LICENSED IN THIS STATE WITH AN 12
OBSTETRICAL PRACTICE AT THE TIME OF UNDERTAKING THE 13
APPRENTICESHIP; OR 14
(4) A CERTIFIED NURSE MIDWIFE LICENSED BY THE BOARD 15
OF NURSING IN THIS STATE WITH AN OBSTETRICAL PRACTICE AT THE 16
TIME OF UNDERTAKING THE APPRENTICESHIP]. 17
* Sec. 16. AS 08.65.110 is amended to read: 18
Sec. 08.65.110. Grounds for discipline, suspension, or revocati on of license 19
[CERTIFICATION]. The board may impose a disciplinary sanction on a person 20
holding a license [CERTIFICATE] or permit under this chapter if the board finds that 21
the person 22
(1) secured a license [CERTIFICATE] or permit through deceit, fraud, 23
or intentional misrepresentation; 24
(2) engaged in deceit, fraud, or intentional misrepresentation i n t h e 25
course of providing professional services or engaging in professional activities; 26
(3) advertised professional services in a false or misleading manner; 27
(4) has been convicted of a felony or other crime that affects the 28
licensee's ability to continue to practice competently and safely; 29
(5) intentionally or negligently engaged in or permitted the 30
performance of client care by persons under the licensed [CERTIFIED DIRECT-31
34-LS0198\N
HB0095a -9- HB 95
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

ENTRY] midwife's supervision that does not conform to minimum p rofessional 1
standards regardless of whether actual injury to the client occurred; 2
(6) failed to comply with this chapter, with a regulation adop ted under 3
this chapter, or with an order of the board; 4
(7) continued to practice after becoming unfit due to 5
(A) professional incompetence; 6
(B) failure to keep informed of current professional practices; 7
(C) addiction or severe depende ncy on alcohol or other drugs 8
that impairs the ability to practice safely; or 9
(D) physical or mental disability; or 10
(8) engaged in lewd or immoral conduct in connection with the 11
delivery of professional service to clients. 12
* Sec. 17. AS 08.65.120(a) is amended to read: 13
(a) When the board [IT] finds that a person holding a license 14
[CERTIFICATE] or permit under this chapter is guilty of an offense under 15
AS 08.65.110, the board, in addition to the powers provided in AS 08.01.075, may 16
impose the following sanctions singly or in combination: 17
(1) permanently revoke the license [A CERTIFICATE] or permit [TO 18
PRACTICE]; 19
(2) suspend the license [A CERTIFICATE] or permit for a 20
determinate period of time; 21
(3) censure the [A] person [HOLDING A CERTIFICATE OR 22
PERMIT]; 23
(4) issue a letter of reprimand; 24
(5) place the [A] person [HOLDING A CERTIFICATE OR PERMIT] 25
on probationary status and require the person to 26
(A) report regularly to the board on [UPON] matters involving 27
the basis of probation; 28
(B) limit practice to those areas prescribed; 29
(C) continue professional education until a satisfactory degre e 30
of skill has been attained in those areas determined by the boa rd to need 31
34-LS0198\N
HB 95 -10- HB0095a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

improvement; 1
(6) impose limitations or conditions on the practice of the [A] person 2
holding the license [A CERTIFICATE] or permit. 3
* Sec. 18. AS 08.65.120(d) is amended to read: 4
( d ) T h e b o a r d m a y r e i n s t a t e a license [CERTIFICATE] or permit that has 5
been suspended or revoked if the board finds after a hearing th at the applicant for the 6
reinstatement is able to practice with reasonable skill and safety. 7
* Sec. 19. AS 08.65.140 is amended to read: 8
Sec. 08.65.140. Required practices. The board shall adopt regulations 9
regarding the practice of [DIRECT-ENTRY] midwifery. At a minimu m, the 10
regulations must require that a licensed [CERTIFIED DIRECT-ENTRY] midwife 11
(1) [RECOMMEND, BEFORE CARE OR DELIVERY OF A 12
CLIENT, THAT THE CLIENT UNDERGO A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION 13
PERFORMED BY A PHYSICIAN, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT, OR ADVANCED 14
PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSE WHO IS LICENSED IN THIS STATE; 15
(2)] obtain informed consent from a client before onset of labor; 16
(2) [(3)] comply with AS 18.15.150 regarding taking of blood samples, 17
AS 18.15.200 regarding screening of phenylketonuria (PKU), AS 18.50.160 regarding 18
birth registration, AS 18.50.230 rega rding registration of deat hs, AS 18.50.240 19
regarding fetal death registration, and regulations adopted by the Department of 20
Health concerning prophylactic treatment of the eyes of newborn infants [; 21
(4) NOT KNOWINGLY DELIVER A WOMAN WITH CERTAIN 22
TYPES OF HEALTH CONDITIONS, PRIOR HISTORY, OR COMPLICATIONS 23
AS SPECIFIED BY THE BOARD]. 24
* Sec. 20. AS 08.65.140 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 25
(b) A licensed midwife may practice midwifery without 26
(1) being under the supervision of, or collaborating with, ano ther 27
health care provider or a health care facility; or 28
(2) entering into a written or other form of agreement with an other 29
health care provider or a health care facility. 30
* Sec. 21. AS 08.65.150 is amended to read: 31
34-LS0198\N
HB0095a -11- HB 95
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

Sec. 08.65.150. Prohibit ed practices. Except as provided in AS 08.65.170, a 1
person who is not licensed [CERTIFIED] under this chapter as a licensed [DIRECT-2
ENTRY] midwife may not practice midwifery for compensation. 3
* Sec. 22. AS 08.65.160 is amended to read: 4
Sec. 08.65.160. License [CERTIFICATIO N] required if designation used. 5
A person who is not licensed [CERTIFIED] under this chapter , [OR] whose license 6
[CERTIFICATION] is suspended or revoked, or whose license [CERTIFICATION] 7
has lapsed [,] who knowingly uses in connection with the person's name the [WORDS 8
OR] letters "L.M.," the words "Licensed Midwife," ["C.D.M.," "CERTIFIED 9
D I R E C T - E N T R Y M I D W I F E , " ] o r o t h e r l e t t e r s , w o r d s , o r i n s i g n i a i ndicating or 10
implying that the person is licensed [CERTIFIED] as a licensed [DIRECT-ENTRY] 11
midwife by this state or who in any way, orally or in writing, directly or by 12
implication, knowingly holds out as being licensed [CERTIFIED BY THE STATE] as 13
a licensed [DIRECT-ENTRY] midwife in this state is guilty of a class B 14
misdemeanor. In this section, "knowingly" has the meaning given in AS 11.81.900. 15
* Sec. 23. AS 08.65.170 is amended to read: 16
Sec. 08.65.170. Exclusions. This chapter does not apply to a person who is 17
licensed as 18
(1) [WHO IS LICENSED AS] a physician in this state; 19
(2) an advanced practice registered [WHO IS LICENSED AS A 20
CERTIFIED] nurse [MIDWIFE] by the Board of Nursing in this state. 21
[(3) REPEALED 22
(4) REPEALED] 23
* Sec. 24. AS 08.65.180 is amended to read: 24
Sec. 08.65.180. Responsibility for care. If a licensed [CERTIFIED DIRECT-25
ENTRY] midwife seeks to consult with or refer a patient to a li censed physician, the 26
responsibility of the physician f or the patient does not begin until the patient is 27
physically within the physician's care. 28
* Sec. 25. AS 08.65.190(1) is amended to read: 29
( 1 ) " b o a r d " m e a n s t h e B o a r d o f Licensed [CERTIFIED DIRECT-30
ENTRY] Midwives; 31
34-LS0198\N
HB 95 -12- HB0095a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

* Sec. 26. AS 08.65.190(3) is amended to read: 1
(3) "practice of midwifery" means providing necessary supervis ion, 2
health care, preventative measures, and education to women duri ng pregnancy, labor, 3
and the first postpartum year [PERIOD]; providing preconception care; conducting 4
deliveries on the midwife's own responsibility; providing immed iate postpartum care 5
of the newborn infant, well-baby care for the infant through th e age of six [FOUR] 6
weeks, and preventative measures for the infant; identifying ph ysical, social, and 7
emotional needs of the newborn and the woman; arranging for con sultation, referral, 8
and continued involvement of th e midwife on a collaborative bas is when the care 9
required extends beyond the scope of practice of the midwife; p roviding direct 10
supervision of student and apprentice midwives; and executing e mergency measures 11
in the absence of medical assistance, as specified in regulations adopted by the board. 12
* Sec. 27. AS 08.65.190 is amended by adding new paragraphs to read: 13
(4) "health care facility" has the meaning given in AS 18.35.399; 14
(5) "health care provider" has the meaning given in AS 09.65.300(c); 15
(6) "licensed midwife" means a midwife who is licensed under t his 16
chapter to practice midwifery; 17
(7) "midwife" means a person who practices midwifery; 18
(8) "preconception care" means health care that identifies and treats a 19
person's biomedical, behavioral, and social risk factors to max imize the person's 20
conception health and pregnancy outcomes during the person's reproductive years. 21
* Sec. 28. AS 09.65.300(c)(1), as amended by sec. 15, ch. 44, SLA 2024, is amended to 22
read: 23
(1) "health care provider" means a physician, physician assist ant, 24
dentist, dental hygienist, oste opath, optometrist, chiropractor , registered nurse, 25
practical nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, naturopath , physical therapist, 26
occupational therapist, marital and family therapist, psycholog ist, psychological 27
associate, behavior analyst, assistant behavior analyst, licens ed clinical social worker, 28
athletic trainer, licensed [CERTIFIED DIRECT-ENTRY] midwife, licensed 29
professional counselor, or licensed associate counselor; 30
* Sec. 29. AS 11.41.470(1) is amended to read: 31
34-LS0198\N
HB0095a -13- HB 95
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

(1) "health care worker" includes a person who is or purports to be an 1
acupuncturist, advanced practice registered nurse, anesthesiolo gist, licensed 2
[CERTIFIED DIRECT-ENTRY] midwife, chiropractor, dentist, health aide, hypnotist, 3
massage therapist, me ntal health counselor, [MIDWIFE,] nurse, o ccupational 4
therapist, occupational therapy assistant, osteopath, naturopat h, physical therapist, 5
physical therapist assistant, phy sician, physician assistant, p sychiatrist, psychological 6
associate, psychologist, radiologist, religious healing practit ioner, surgeon, x-ray 7
technician, or a substantially similar position; 8
* Sec. 30. AS 18.20.095(e)(2) is amended to read: 9
(2) "licensed staff member" means a person who is employed by the 10
hospital to provide direct patient care and who is licensed or certified in the state as a 11
physician or physician assistant under AS 08.64, licensed [DIRECT-ENTRY] 12
midwife under AS 08.65, nurse o r nurse aide under AS 08.68, or physical therapist or 13
occupational therapist under AS 08.84; 14
* Sec. 31. AS 18.50.165(b) is amended to read: 15
(b) The registrar shall distribute copies of the form prepared under (a) of this 16
section to each hospital in the state, to each physician in the state whose practice 17
includes attendance at births, to each certified nurse midwife and licensed 18
[CERTIFIED DIRECT-ENTRY] midwife in the state, and to each othe r interested 19
person in the state who requests copies of the form. 20
* Sec. 32. AS 21.36.090(d), as amended by sec. 21, ch. 44, SLA 2024, is amended to read: 21
(d) Except to the extent necessary to comply with AS 21.42.365 and 22
AS 21.56, a person may not practi ce or permit unfair discrimina tion against a person 23
who provides a service covered under a group health insurance p olicy that extends 24
coverage on an expense incurre d basis, or under a group service or indemnity type 25
contract issued by a health mai ntenance organization or a nonpr ofit corporation, if the 26
service is within the scope of the provider's oc cupational license. In this subsection, 27
"provider" means a state license d physician, physician assistan t, dentist, osteopath, 28
optometrist, chiropractor, advanc ed practice registered nurse, pharmacist, naturopath, 29
physical therapist, occupational therapist, marital and family therapist, psychologist, 30
psychological associate, licensed clinical social worker, licen sed professional 31
34-LS0198\N
HB 95 -14- HB0095a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

counselor, licensed associate counselor, licensed [CERTIFIED DIRECT-ENTRY] 1
midwife, or dental hygienist holding an advanced practice permit. 2
* Sec. 33. AS 21.42.347(d) is amended by adding a new paragraph to read: 3
(3) "home birth" means the delivery of a child in the home setting. 4
* Sec. 34. AS 21.42.347 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 5
( e ) A h e a l t h c a r e i n s u r e r w h o p rovides coverage for the costs of childbirth 6
shall provide coverage for the c osts of home birth services, in cluding prenatal care, 7
delivery, and postpartum care of both mother and infant, provid ed by a licensed 8
midwife who is acting within the scope of the practice of midwifery under AS 08.65. 9
* Sec. 35. AS 21.42.355 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 10
(c) If a health care insurance plan or an excepted benefits po licy or contract 11
provides indemnity for the cost of preconception care or servic es of a physician 12
provided to women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the period after childbirth up to 13
one year, indemnity in a reasonable amount shall also be provid e d f or the c o s t o f a 14
midwife licensed under AS 08.65 who provides the same services. Indemnity may be 15
provided under this subsection onl y if the licensed midwife is practicing as a licensed 16
midwife within the scope of the license. 17
(d) If a health care insurance plan or an excepted benefits po licy or contract 18
provides for furnishing preconception care or those services re quired of a physician in 19
the care of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the period after childbirth up to 20
one year, the contract shall also provide that a midwife licens ed under AS 08.65 may 21
furnish those same services instead of a physician. Services ma y be provided under 22
this subsection only if the licensed midwife is practicing as a licensed midwife in 23
accordance with the regulations adopted under AS 08.65.030(b)(2 ), and the services 24
provided are within the scope of practice of the license. 25
(e) In this section, "preconception care" has the meaning give n in 26
AS 08.65.190. 27
* Sec. 36. AS 21.84.335(b)(15) is amended to read: 28
(15) AS 21.42.355(a) and (b) [AS 21.42.355]; 29
* Sec. 37. AS 25.20.055(a) is amended to read: 30
(a) When a birth occurs to an unmarried woman in a hospital or en route to a 31
34-LS0198\N
HB0095a -15- HB 95
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

hospital to which the woman is later admitted, the hospital sha ll ensure that a staff 1
member 2
(1) meets with the woman before release from the hospital; 3
(2) attempts to meet with the father of the unmarried woman's child, if 4
possible; 5
(3) presents to the mother and, if possible, the father, a pam phlet or 6
statement regarding the rights and responsibilities of a natura l parent; the Department 7
of Health shall prepare this pam phlet and distribute copies of it to each hospital in the 8
state, to each physician in the state whose practice includes a ttendance at births, to 9
each certified nurse midwife and licensed [CERTIFIED DIRECT-ENTRY] midwife 10
in the state, and to other interested persons in the state who request copies; 11
(4) provides to the mother and, if possible, the father, all f orms, 12
statements, or agreements necessary to voluntarily establish a parent and child 13
relationship, including an acknowl edgment of paternity form pre pared under 14
AS 18.50.165; 15
(5) on request of the mother and father, assists the father in completing 16
specific forms, statements, or agreements necessary to establis h a parent and child 17
relationship between the father and the child; and 18
(6) on request of the mother and father, mails a completed vol untary 19
acknowledgment of paternity form to the state registrar for filing under AS 18.50.165. 20
* Sec. 38. AS 25.20.055(b) is amended to read: 21
(b) When a birth occurs to an unmarried woman who is not in a hospital for 22
the birth nor admitted to a hospital immediately after the birt h , a n d t h e b i r t h i s 23
attended by a physician, cer tified nurse midwife, or licensed [CERTIFIED DIRECT-24
ENTRY] midwife, the physician, certified nurse midwife, or licensed [CERTIFIED 25
DIRECT-ENTRY] midwife shall perform the duties described in (a) (2) - (6) of this 26
section or ensure that an agent performs those duties. 27
* Sec. 39. AS 44.62.330(a)(36) is amended to read: 28
(36) Board of Licensed [CERTIFIED DIRECT-ENTRY] Midwives; 29
* Sec. 40. AS 47.07.900(13) is amended to read: 30
(13) "midwife services" means services within the practice of 31
34-LS0198\N
HB 95 -16- HB0095a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

midwifery, as defined in AS 08.65.190, that are performed by a licensed [CERTIFIED 1
DIRECT-ENTRY] midwife, and misce llaneous fees, other than facil ity fees, for birth 2
kits, oxygen, and other ancillary expenses necessary for a birt h attended by a licensed 3
[CERTIFIED DIRECT-ENTRY] midwife; 4
* Sec. 41. AS 47.20.320(d) is amended to read: 5
(d) A hospital or other health facility, clinical laboratory, audiologist, 6
physician, registered or advanced practice registered nurse, licensed [CERTIFIED 7
DIRECT-ENTRY] midwife, officer or employee of a health facility or clinical 8
laboratory, or an employee of an audiologist, physician, or reg istered or advanced 9
practice registered nurse is not criminally or civilly liable for furnishing information in 10
good faith to the department or its designee under this section . The furnishing of 11
information in accordance with this section is not a violation of AS 08 or AS 18 or 12
regulations adopted under AS 08 or AS 18 for licensees under those statutes. 13
* Sec. 42. AS 08.65.060 and 08.65.070 are repealed. 14
* Sec. 43. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 15
read: 16
TRANSITION: CONTINUATION OF BOARD. Each member of the Board of 17
Certified Direct-Entry Midwives, as that board is constituted u nder AS 08.65.010, as that 18
section read on the day before the effective date of sec. 9 of this Act, shall serve on the Board 19
of Licensed Midwives, established by AS 08.65.010, as amended b y secs. 8 and 9 of this Act, 20
for the remainder of the member's term under AS 08.65.010, as t hat section read on the day 21
before the effective date of sec. 9 of this Act, and until the member's successor is appointed 22
by the governor and confirmed by the legislature under AS 08.65 .010(b), as amended by sec. 23
9 of this Act. 24
* Sec. 44. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 25
read: 26
TRANSITION: CURRENT DIRECT-ENTRY MIDWIVES, MIDWIVES LICENSED 27
BY CREDENTIALS, AND APPRENTICE MIDWIVES. (a) Notwithstanding AS 08.65.050, 28
as amended by sec. 12 of this Act, the Board of Licensed Midwiv es shall issue a license to 29
practice midwifery to a person who held a valid certificate to practice direct-entry midwifery 30
issued under AS 08.65.050 on the day before the effective date of sec. 12 of this Act. The 31
34-LS0198\N
HB0095a -17- HB 95
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

license to practice midwifery expires on the expiration date of the certificate to practice 1
direct-entry midwifery. 2
(b) Notwithstanding the repeal of AS 08.65.070 by sec. 42 of t his Act, the Board of 3
Licensed Midwives shall issue a license to practice midwifery t o a person who held a valid 4
certificate to practice direct-entry midwifery issued under AS 08.65.070 on the day before the 5
effective date of sec. 42 of this Act. The license to practice midwifery expires on the 6
expiration date of the certificate to practice direct-entry midwifery. 7
(c) Notwithstanding AS 08.65.090, as amended by sec. 15 of thi s Act, the Board of 8
Licensed Midwives shall issue a permit to practice as an appren tice midwife to a person who 9
held a valid permit to practice as an apprentice direct-entry m idwife issued under 10
AS 08.65.090 on the day before the effective date of sec. 15 of this Act. 11
* Sec. 45. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 12
read: 13
RETROACTIVITY. Section 5 of this Act is retroactive to June 30, 2025. 14
* Sec. 46. Section 45 of this Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). 15
* Sec. 47. Section 5 of this Act takes effect June 30, 2025. 16
* Sec. 48. Except as provided in secs. 46 a nd 47 of this Act, this Act tak es effect 17
September 1, 2025. 18