HB 214 — DOULA CREDENTIALING & ACCESS ACT

HOUSEAN BILLACT 214RELATING 57THTO LEGISLATUREHEALTH; -STATEOFNEWMEXICO- FIRST SESSION, 2025 INTRODUCED BY Doreen Y.

Gallegos and Elizabeth "Liz" Stefanics and Janelle Anyanonu and Sarah Silva and Reena Szczepanski 7 9 AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH;

ESTABLISHING A PROCESS FOR COLLABORATION AMONG STATE AGENCIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND PRIVATE e t 17 ENTITIES FOR SHARING CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING SERVICES w l n d 18 PROVIDED BY CREDENTIALED DOULAS;

= = 19 a l CREATING THE DOULA FUND;

REQUIRING HOSPITALS AND FREESTANDING i a e r 20 BIRTH CENTERS TO CREATE POLICIES TO ALLOW DOULAS TO ACCOMPANY a t m m 21 PATIENTS RECEIVING CERTAIN SERVICES ON THEIR PREMISES.

d r e 22 c e s k 23 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

e a n b 24 SECTION 1.

[NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--This act may be u [ cited as the "Doula Credentialing and Access Act".

.228807.2 SECTION 2.

[NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Doula Credentialing and Access Act:

HB 214 Page 1 D.

and e t 17 (2) elects to receive services from a w l n d 18 credentialed doula, while pregnant or during the first twelve = = 19 a l months of the postpartum period, regardless of the person's i a e r 20 birth outcome;

a t m m 21 G.

"freestanding birth center" means a birth center d r e 22 licensed by the authority;

c e s k 23 H.

"hospital" means a hospital licensed by the e a n b 24 authority;

and u [ I.

.228807.2 - 2 - SECTION 3.

[NEW MATERIAL] RULEMAKING--VOLUNTARY DOULA CREDENTIALING--FEES--DISCIPLINARYCREDENTIALING-- FEES--DISCIPLINARY ACTION.-- A.

HB 214 Page 2 (a) education;

(3) standards for continuing education, e t 17 professional development, mentorship activities and other w l n d 18 requirements that the secretary deems appropriate for = = 19 a l recertification;

i a e r 20 (4) the creation of a workforce development a t m m 21 plan, including practices for promoting equitable access to d r e 22 doula credentialing for members of underserved communities;

c e s k 23 (5) procedures for disciplinary action e a n b 24 relating to applicants or credentialed doulas, including u [ guidelines for:

.228807.2 - 3 - (a) reprimands;

(6) the development and operation of a publicly accessible online directory for identifying HB 214 Page 3 credentialed doulas;

and (2) apply any fees collected pursuant to the Doula Credentialing and Access Act to cover the costs of administering a voluntary program for credentialing doulas e t 17 pursuant to that act.

w l n d 18 SECTION 4.

[NEW MATERIAL] USE OF THE "CREDENTIALED DOULA" = = 19 a l DESIGNATION--UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE.-- i a e r 20 A.

In order to use the title "credentialed doula" a t m m 21 or other designation that indicates that an individual is a d r e 22 credentialed doula, the individual shall be credentialed c e s k 23 pursuant to the provisions of the Doula Credentialing and e a n b 24 Access Act.

u [ B.

To ensure compliance with the provisions of the .228807.2 - 4 - Doula Credentialing and Access Act or any rule that the secretary has adopted and promulgated pursuant to that act, the department may issue cease-and-desist orders to persons who violate the provisions of the Doula Credentialing and Access Act.

A credentialed doula shall engage only in those activities authorized pursuant to the Doula Credentialing and HB 214 Page 4 Access Act and by rules adopted and promulgated pursuant to that act.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent or restrict the practice, service or activities of an individual simultaneously credentialed as a credentialed doula and licensed, certified, registered or otherwise legally authorized in the state to engage in the e t 17 practice of another profession if that individual does not, w l n d 18 while engaged in the authorized practice of another profession, = = 19 a l use any name, title or other designation indicating that the i a e r 20 individual is a credentialed doula.

a t m m 21 SECTION 5.

[NEW MATERIAL] DOULA CREDENTIALING ADVISORY d r e 22 COUNCIL.-- c e s k 23 A.

The "doula credentialing advisory council" is e a n b 24 established and administratively attached to the department.

u [ B.

The doula credentialing advisory council shall .228807.2 - 5 - hold its first meeting no later than September 1, 2025 and thereafter shall meet at least quarterly at the call of the chair.

and (2) appointed by and serve at the pleasure HB 214 Page 5 of the secretary.

and (4) twelve members from diverse linguistic and e t 17 cultural backgrounds and varied geographic regions, at least w l n d 18 eight of whom shall be doulas.