What's happening
This bill creates a professional certification process for doulas in New York, establishing standards, requirements, and title protections.
Why it matters
Sets clear, standardized requirements for doula certification. , including education, examination, age, moral character, and application fees, which could increase client confidence in the quality and professionalism of doula services.
Restricts the use of the title "certified doula" to those who meet state standards. , potentially helping consumers distinguish between certified and uncertified practitioners, and creating a more regulated workforce.
Clarifies the professional boundaries of doulas. , explicitly stating that certification does not allow doulas to perform activities reserved for other licensed health professions, which helps protect both clients and other healthcare providers from scope-of-practice confusion.
May facilitate broader acceptance and integration of doulas into healthcare teams and insurance systems. , as state-recognized certification could be a step toward reimbursement eligibility and formal recognition in medical settings.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Certify Doulas Statewide
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Tabled
- Vetoed memo.195
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- 3rd reading cal.243
- Substituted for S3344B
- Referred to rules
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.315
- Rules report cal.315
Show 9 earlier actions
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Reported referred to codes
- Print number 364b
- Amend and recommit to health
- Print number 364a
- Amend and recommit to health
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Certify Professional Doulas
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Jessica Ramos
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
364--B
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, GOTTFRIED, GALEF, JAFFEE, L. ROSENTHAL, COOK, SEAWRIGHT, ARROYO, BLAKE, DICKENS, PICHARDO, THIELE, McDONOUGH, SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health -committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- again reported from said committee with amendments, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to professional certification of doulas
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2509 to read as follows:
§ 2509. Certified doulas. 1. Definitions. As used in this section:
(a) "Certified doula" means an individual certified under this section who provides certified doula services.
(b) "Certified doula services" means continuous emotional and physical support provided by a certified doula throughout labor and birth, and intermittently during the prenatal and postpartum periods.
2. Use of title. Only a person certified under this section shall be authorized to use the title "certified doula".
3. Certificate. The commissioner shall issue a certificate as a certified doula to an individual who applies for certification and who qualifies under subdivision four of this section.
4. Requirements for a professional certification. To be certified under this section, an applicant shall fulfill the following requirements:
(a) Application: file an application with the department.
(b) Education: satisfactorily:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01668-04-9
A. 364--B 2
(i) complete an educational program, in accordance with the commissioner's regulations; or
(ii) submit evidence of certification, the educational preparation for which is determined by the department to be equivalent to the foregoing, from any state or country, satisfactory to the department and in accordance with the commissioner's regulations.
(c) Examination: pass an examination satisfactory to the department and in accordance with the commissioner's regulations.
(d) Age: be at least eighteen years of age.
(e) Character: be of good moral character as determined by the department.
(f) Fee: pay a fee of forty dollars to the department for consideration of an application for certification.
5. Scope of practice. Nothing in this section authorizes a certified doula to engage in any act within the scope of practice of any other profession under title eight of the education law or any other law, unless the certified doula would be otherwise authorized to do so by law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the commissioner of health shall make regulations and take other actions reasonably necessary to implement this act on such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.