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S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5665
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
February 26, 2025
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Introduced by Sen. CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Women's Issues
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing a
doula awareness and education program
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section
2 207-b to read as follows:
3 § 207-B. DOULA AWARENESS AND EDUCATION PROGRAM. 1. THE DEPARTMENT
4 SHALL CONDUCT AN ONGOING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION PROGRAM ON
5 DOULAS AND HOW BENEFICIAL THEY ARE TO PREGNANCIES.
6 2. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PRODUCE AND DISTRIBUTE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
7 ON THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A DOULA; A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL WHO PROVIDES
8 EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENLIGHTENING SUPPORT DURING PREGNANCY, DELIV-
9 ERY, AND BIRTH. SUCH MATERIALS SHALL BE MADE TO AVAILABLE APPROPRIATE
10 HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO PATIENTS. ON ITS WEBSITE, THE
11 DEPARTMENT SHALL ALSO PUBLISH INFORMATION ABOUT THE ADVANTAGES OF DOULAS
12 IN REDUCING MORTALITY RATES FOR PREGNANT INDIVIDUALS AND THE INCREASED
13 RISK OF THIS OCCURRING FOR PREGNANT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PRIMARILY BLACK.
14 3. NO PROVISION OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE DEEMED TO PROHIBIT THE UTILI-
15 ZATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS RELATING THERETO
16 PRODUCED BY ANY PUBLIC, PRIVATE OR GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, IN LIEU OF THE
17 DEPARTMENT'S PRODUCTION OF SUCH MATERIALS.
18 4. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PERIODICALLY REVIEW AVAILABLE DATA ON THE
19 MORTALITY RATE OF PREGNANT INDIVIDUALS IN RELATION TO DOULAS AND UPDATE
20 THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN ITS EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND ON ITS INTER-
21 NET WEBSITE, AS APPROPRIATE.
22 5. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REPORT EVERY THREE YEARS, COMMENCING JANUARY
23 FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-EIGHT, TO THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESI-
24 DENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY ON THE IMPLEMENTATION
25 OF THIS SECTION AND ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHERING THE PURPOSES OF
26 THIS SECTION.
27 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10386-01-5