Rpld Chap of 2024 (as proposed in S.5991-A & A.7606); amd §2500-m, Pub Health L
Requires the department of health to require all maternal healthcare facilities to include and/or post on the maternal healthcare facility's webpage, lobby, and patient waiting areas information stating a birthing parent is allowed to have a doula present in the maternal health care facility for delivery and/or inpatient care post-delivery.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A1026
SPONSOR: Solages TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to access to doulas;
and to repeal a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the public health
law relating to permitting doulas to be present in the operating room
while a cesarean section is being performed, as proposed in legislative
bills numbers S. 5991-A and A. 7606
PURPOSE:
To notify patients of their right to have a doula present during proce-
dures. SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: This bill amends public health law to
remove the requirement for hospitals to allow patients access to desig-
nated doulas during a c-section as a general right to doula access
during maternal and post-maternal care already exists under current law.
JUSTIFICATION:
Doulas are trained professionals who provide emotional, physical, and
informational support to expecting mothers and their families before,
during, and after childbirth. They serve as advocates for the birthing
people, helping them navigate the healthcare system and providing infor-
mation and encouragement throughout the process. Research has shown
that having a doula present during childbirth can lead to shorter labor,
reduced need for pain medication, fewer medical interventions, and high-
er rates of breastfeeding.
This bill would remove the requirement already present in current law to
reduce redundancy and clarify doula accessibility for birthing parents
to ensure continued support within maternal healthcare facility.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.
BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:
None noted.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same 4 manner as
a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the public health law relating to
permitting doulas to be present in the operating room while a cesarean
section is being performed, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.
5991-A and A. 7606; provided, however that section two of this act shall
take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the
laws of 2024 amending the public health law relating to permitting
expecting and new mothers' access to their doulas, as proposed in legis-
lative bills numbers S. 5992-A and A. 6168-A, takes effect.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1026
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to access to doulas;
and to repeal a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the public health
law relating to permitting doulas to be present in the operating room
while a cesarean section is being performed, as proposed in legisla-
tive bills numbers S. 5991-A and A. 7606
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. A chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the public health
2 law relating to permitting doulas to be present in the operating room
3 while a cesarean section is being performed, as proposed in legislative
4 bills numbers S. 5991-A and A. 7606, is REPEALED.
5 § 2. Section 2500-m of the public health law is amended by adding a
6 new subdivision (c) to read as follows:
7 (c) The department shall require all maternal health care facilities
8 to include and/or post on the maternal health care facility's webpage,
9 lobby, and patient waiting areas information stating a birthing parent
10 is allowed to have a doula present in the maternal health care facility
11 for delivery and/or inpatient care post-delivery. Such information shall
12 be written in layperson's language and shall be made available in
13 English and the six most common non-English languages spoken by individ-
14 uals with limited English proficiency in New York state as based on the
15 most recent census. The department shall produce and provide maternal
16 health care facilities with informational pamphlets stating a birthing
17 parent shall be allowed to have a doula present in the maternal health
18 care facility for delivery and/or inpatient care post-delivery. The
19 informational pamphlet shall be: available in each patient waiting area
20 as a printed deliverable; written in layperson's language; and made
21 available in English and the six most common non-English languages
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02853-01-5
A. 1026 2
1 spoken by individuals with limited English proficiency in New York state
2 as based on the most recent census.
3 § 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same
4 manner as a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the public health law
5 relating to permitting doulas to be present in the operating room while
6 a cesarean section is being performed, as proposed in legislative bills
7 numbers S. 5991-A and A. 7606; provided, however that section two of
8 this act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a
9 chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the public health law relating to
10 permitting expecting and new mothers' access to their doulas, as
11 proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 5992-A and A. 6168-A, takes
12 effect.
