What's happening
This bill requires maternal health care facilities to inform patients of their right to have a doula present, providing information in multiple languages.
Why it matters
Empowers birthing parents with clear information. about their right to have a doula present during delivery and post-delivery inpatient care, potentially increasing awareness and utilization of supportive birth services.
Mandates accessible, multilingual communication. by requiring information and pamphlets to be available in plain language and the top six non-English languages spoken in New York, helping to reduce disparities for those with limited English proficiency.
Standardizes doula rights information across all maternal health facilities. , ensuring consistent messaging and reducing confusion, which can lead to better patient advocacy and improved maternal health outcomes.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Inform Parents of Doula Rights
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A1026
- Ordered to third reading cal.83
- Referred to rules
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.
Require Hospitals Inform About Doulas
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Michaelle C. Solages
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
809
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. PERSAUD -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 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room while a cesarean section is being performed, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 5991-A and A. 7606, is REPEALED.
§ 2. Section 2500-m of the public health law is amended by adding a new subdivision (c) to read as follows:
(c) The department shall require all maternal health care facilities to include and/or post on the maternal health care 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. Such information shall be written in layperson's language and shall be made available in English and the six most common non-English languages spoken by individuals with limited English proficiency in New York state as based on the most recent census. The department shall produce and provide maternal health care facilities with informational pamphlets stating a birthing parent shall be allowed to have a doula present in the maternal health care facility for delivery and/or inpatient care post-delivery. The informational pamphlet shall be: available in each patient waiting area as a printed deliverable; written in layperson's language; and made 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
spoken by individuals with limited English proficiency in New York state as based on the most recent census.
§ 2. 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 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 legislative bills numbers S. 5992-A and A. 6168-A, takes effect.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
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
This is a chapter amendment that makes changes to L.2024, c.654, to clarify provisions related to allowing a birthing person access to their doula and requiring all maternal healthcare facilities to post on their website, in the facility lobbies, and in inpatient waiting areas that birthing individuals have the right to access doula support.
Summary of provisions
This bill amends the underlying chapter to eliminate duplicative language and align the provisions with Chapter 550 of the Laws of 2024.
Justification
This legislation is a negotiated change to the underlying chapter.
Legislative history
Chapter amendment to Chapter 654 of the Laws of 2024. S.5991-A and A.7606 both passed the Senate and Assembly during the 2024 Legislative Session.
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
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 doulas to be present in the operating room while a cesarean section is being performed, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 5991A 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.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.