HB 7102 — AN ACT CONCERNING MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH CARE.

Substitute House ofBill Representatives File No.

8147102 GeneralPublic AssemblyAct January Session, 2025(Reprint of File No.

408)25-38 SubstituteAN HouseACT BillCONCERNING No.MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH CARE.

7102 As Amended by House Amendment Schedule "A" Approved by the Legislative Commissioner April 30, 2025 AN ACT CONCERNING MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH CARE.

(b) The strategic plan developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall include (1) identification of any barriers to opening birth centers and birthing hospitals, (2) incentives that may be offered by the state to facilitate the opening of more such centers and hospitals, and (3) an evaluation of best practices nation wide to facilitate the opening and sHB7102sustainability /of Filesuch No.centers and hospitals.

814(c) sHB7102Not Filelater than January 1, 2027, the Commissioner of Health Strategy shall file a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, with the joint standing committees of the Substitute House Bill No.

8147102 sustainabilityGeneral Assembly having cognizance of suchmatters centersrelating to appropriations and hospitals.the budgets of state agencies, human services and public health.

(c) Not later than January 1, 2027, the Commissioner of Health Strategy shall file a report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, with the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and the budgets of state agencies, human services and public health.

sHB7102(4) /The FileCommissioner No.of Early Childhood, or the commissioner's designee;

814Public sHB7102Act File No.

81425-38 (4)2 The Commissioner of Early6 Childhood,Substitute orHouse theBill commissioner'sNo. designee;

7102 (5) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee;

sHB7102Public /Act File No.

81425-38 sHB71023 Fileof 6 Substitute House Bill No.

8147102 (A) One with expertise in the area of legal assistance to low-income populations;

(e)Public TheAct Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the council and within available resources, shall apply for any available sHB7102 / File No.

81425-38 sHB71024 Fileof 6 Substitute House Bill No.

8147102 (e) The Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the council and within available resources, shall apply for any available federal and private funds for programs that promote CFI objectives in accordance with this section and section 17b-27b.

ThisPublic actAct shallNo. take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

Section25-38 15 Julyof 1,6 2025Substitute NewHouse sectionBill sHB7102 / File No.

8147102 sHB7102Governor's FileAction: No.

814Approved Sec.June 10, 2025 Public Act No.

225-38 July6 1,of 20256 17b-27c sHB7102 / File No.

814 6 sHB7102 File No.

814 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill requires the Office of Health Strategy to develop a plan to open more birth centers and birthing hospitals in underserved areas of the state, which does not result in a fiscal impact.

The bill also adds to the objectives supported by the Connecticut FatherhoodInitiative (CFI)Counciltoinclude programsthatexpandthe roleoffathersinsupportingmaternalhealth.DSSmustapply forrelated funds and distribute to aligned programs, which the agency can do with existing staff.

House "A" removes provisions requiring Medicaid rate increases for doula services and eliminates the associated cost.

The Out Years State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None sHB7102 / File No.

814 7 sHB7102 File No.

814 OLR Bill Analysis sHB 7102 (as amended by House "A")* AN ACT CONCERNING MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH CARE.

SUMMARY This bill requires the Office of Health Strategy (OHS) commissioner to develop a strategic plan to increase the number of birth centers and birthing hospitals in areas with high percentages of Medicaid recipients and limited access to these facilities.

Under the bill, the OHS commissioner must report by January 1, 2027, to the Appropriations, Human Services, and Public Health committees on recommendations and estimated state appropriations needed to open more birth centers and birthing hospitals in underserved areas.

The bill also expands the Connecticut Fatherhood Initiative’s (CFI) objectives to include expanding fathers’ roles in supporting maternal health.