ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fourth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: HHS DPA 9-0-0-0

HB 2670: doulas; voluntary certification

Sponsor:  Representative Townsend, LD 16

Caucus & COW

Overview

Establishes procedures for a person to apply to the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) to obtain a certificate to practice as a doula and outlines powers and duties of the Director of DHS (Director) regarding the certification of community doulas.

History

A doula is a part of a birth team who provides support to birthing women and their families before, during and after birth. The nonprofit organization Doulas of North America International (DONA), the world's largest doula certifying organization, publishes a code of ethics and standards of practice for certified doulas. Although various private organizations offer certification for doulas, Arizona does not require doulas to be licensed or certified.

Provisions

1.    Allows a person to apply to the Director for a certificate to practice as a certified community doula. (Sec. 1)

2.    Requires the Director to grant a community doula certificate to a person who

a)    Meets the qualifications and rules established by the Director;

b)    Pays the applicable fees; and

c)    Possesses a valid fingerprint clearance card. (Sec. 1)

3.    Specifies that a community doula certificate is valid for three years. (Sec. 1)

4.    Requires a doula to file a renewal application at least thirty days, and no more than sixty days, before the current certificate expires, and to complete fifteen hours of continuing education before the certificate may be renewed. (Sec. 1)

5.    Requires the Director to prescribe the scope of practice and core competencies of certified community doulas. (Sec. 1)

6.    Mandates that the minimum qualifications for the training of certified community doulas must include the following:

a)    At least 30 hours of in-person classroom instruction;

b)    At least one documented observation of a birth after training is completed;

c)    Attending at least three births while serving as the primary doula support person;

d)    Passing a written examination as prescribed by DHS; and

e)    Instruction on first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. (Sec. 1)

7.    Requires the Director to adopt standards for certified community doula training programs, continuing education programs and qualifications for trainers in such programs. (Sec. 1)

8.    Requires the Director to adopt rules that prescribe the scope of practice and the core competencies of certified community doulas. (Sec. 1)

9.    Allows the Director to adopt rules for administration and that allow for reciprocity agreements, including with the Indian Health Service. The Director may waive the minimum training and education requirements for certification for applicants that provide documentation of current certification with a nationally recognized doula organization. (Sec. 1)

10.  Waives the minimum training and education requirements for certification of applicants who have a current certification with a nationally recognized doula organization. (Sec. 1)

11.  Allows the Director to deny, suspend or revoke the certificate of a community doula who:

a)    Violates a rule adopted by the Director;

b)    Is convicted of moral turpitude; or

c)    Indulges in conduct that is detrimental to the public health or safety. (Sec. 1)

12.  Allows DHS to revoke a community doula certificate without holding a hearing, and stipulates that the doula may request a hearing which DHS must then conduct. (Sec. 1)

13.  Grants the Director the ability to deny, suspend or revoke a certificate permanently or for a fixed time period. (Sec. 1)

14.  Specifies that a certified community doula who is employed by an Indian tribe is under tribal government jurisdiction. (Sec. 1)

15.  Authorizes the Director to investigate possible violations by examining and copying documents and other physical evidence related to the conduct or competence of a certified doula. (Sec. 1)

16.  Requires the Director to establish and collect fees for community doula certification. (Sec. 1)

17.  Specifies that a doula is not required to be certified by DHS in order to practice as a doula in Arizona. (Sec. 1)

18.  Prohibits the state and political subdivisions of the state from providing a preference in awarding a public contract for certified community doula services. (Sec. 1)

19.  Adds certified community doulas to the fingerprinting statutes. (Sec. 2, 4 and 6)

20.  Repeals version 2 of the definitions in the Board of Fingerprinting statutes and Fingerprinting Division statutes. (Sec. 3 and 5)

21.  ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteDefines certified community doula, director, doula, and practice as a certified community doula. (Sec. 1)

 

 

 

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Initials IG                     Caucus & COW

 

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