NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7332
SPONSOR: Wright TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing a
doula awareness and education program
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Facilitates the creation of an ongoing public awareness and education
program on doulas and how beneficial they are to pregnancies.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The state law is amended by adding a new section 207-B to article 2 to
increase awareness on doulas.
JUSTIFICATION:
Maternal mortality has been a persistent issue that has plagued our
country. Unfortunately, in the United States racial disparities have
reinforced inequitable access to proper maternal care. This along with
other factors such as the community, facility, patient, and provider has
led to an increase in maternal deaths amongst Black women. A doula is a
trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and enlightening
support during pregnancy, delivery, and birth. They can help decrease
the maternal mortality rate especially for women with higher risk preg-
nancies.By establishing a doula awareness and education program more
people will be informed about what a doula is and how beneficial they
can be to a pregnancy. There are often gaps when providing individual-
ized attention to parents during labor. A doula can fill this gap by
providing continuous and personalized support to ensure the safety of
the birthgiver. The birth of a child is something so beautiful - some-
thing a parent should not have to lose their life for. By increasing
awareness of doulas and how they can improve pregnancy we can be saving
lives that do not need to be lost.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
