House Engrossed

 

 

 

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-first Legislature

First Regular Session

2013

 

 

HOUSE BILL 2547

 

 

 

AN ACT

 

Establishing the birth outcome committee.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Birth outcome committee; membership; report; delayed repeal; definition

A.  The director of the department of health services shall appoint a birth outcome committee consisting of the following members:

1.  The director of the Arizona health care cost containment system administration, or the director's designee.  The director or the director's designee shall serve as chairperson of the committee.

2.  The director of the department of health services or the director's designee.

3.  Five members of the doula community in this state.

4.  One representative from a federally funded, community based infant mortality reduction program in this state that is located in a county with a population of more than three million persons.

B.  The committee shall:

1.  Explore options for providing or using doulas as a service provided to eligible members by the Arizona health care cost containment system to improve birth outcomes for women who face a disproportionately greater risk of poor birth outcomes and increased infant mortality.

2.  On or before November 15, 2013, submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate and submit a copy of its report to the secretary of state.

C.  Committee members are not eligible for compensation or reimbursement of expenses.

D.  This section is repealed from and after December 31, 2013.

E.  For the purposes of this section, "doula" means a birth companion who provides personal, nonmedical support to women and families throughout a woman's pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum experience.

Sec. 2.  Emergency

This act is an emergency measure that is necessary to preserve the public peace, health or safety and is operative immediately as provided by law.