What's happening
This bill requires the Department of Health to develop and publish recommendations for maternal health care and birthing best practices, emphasizing patient-centered and culturally competent care.
Why it matters
Shifts from a temporary workgroup to ongoing standards. Instead of relying on a short-term workgroup (which is repealed), the bill tasks the Department of Health with continually developing and updating maternal care recommendations, potentially leading to more sustainable and evolving standards.
Focuses on culturally competent and non-discriminatory care. By explicitly requiring recommendations for fair, courteous, and culturally competent care, the bill seeks to address persistent inequities and discrimination in maternal health—issues that disproportionately affect people of color and marginalized groups.
Emphasizes patient empowerment and informed choice. The bill mandates that patients receive clear, judgment-free information about risks, benefits, and alternatives, along with the right to discuss and document their birthing preferences, aiming to strengthen patient autonomy and trust in the healthcare system.
Expands access to support services. Including doulas and mental health services within the definition of “adequate support” recognizes the broader needs of birthing people beyond just medical intervention, which could improve outcomes and patient satisfaction.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Strengthen Maternal Care Standards
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A914
- Ordered to third reading cal.87
- 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.
Improve Maternal Birth Care
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Sarah Clark
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
813
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. WEBB -- 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 requiring the department of health to evaluate and make recommendations related to maternal health care and birthing best practices; to amend a chapter of the laws of 2024 requiring the department of health to convene a maternal health care and birthing standards workgroup, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 7702-A and A. 8207-A, in relation to the effectiveness thereof; and to repeal section 1 of such chapter
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1 of a chapter of the laws of 2024 requiring the department of health to convene a maternal health care and birthing standards workgroup, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 7702-A and A. 8207-A, is REPEALED.
§ 2. Subdivisions 3 and 4 of section 2500 of the public health law are renumbered subdivisions 4 and 5 and a new subdivision 3 is added to read as follows:
3. a. The commissioner shall, in conjunction with hospitals, obstetricians, midwives, doulas, maternal health care provider organizations; mental health care provider organizations; and any additional stakeholders that the commissioner deems necessary, evaluate and make recommendations related to the development of maternal health care and birthing best practices which support each patient receiving the highest quality of care. These recommendations shall include, but not be limited to, best practices for every patient to receive:
(i) fair, courteous and respectful culturally competent care free of discrimination;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02857-01-5
(ii) accurate and judgment-free advice and recommendations that allow for informed decision making and consent regarding care and treatment, including risks, benefits, outcomes and alternative procedures;
(iii) clear, concise and easily understood information about their care and treatment outcomes, medical team and birthing options, the policies and procedures of the hospital or birthing center, and resources available to them;
(iv) an opportunity to discuss their birthing preferences with their care team and have such preferences documented; and
(v) adequate support during their pregnancy, labor and childbirth, including access to doula and mental health services.
b. No later than one year after the effective date of this subdivision the commissioner shall publish such recommendations on the department of health's website and update all relevant materials provided to the public through the department to reflect these standards. Such recommendations shall be updated at least once after publishing and as necessary thereafter.
§ 3. Section 2 of a chapter of the laws of 2024 requiring the department of health to convene a maternal health care and birthing standards workgroup, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 7702-A and A. 8207-A, is amended to read as follows:
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the [ninetieth] one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law [and shall expire 2 years after such effective date when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed].
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that sections one and two of this act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2024 requiring the department of health to convene a maternal health care and birthing standards workgroup, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 7702-A and A. 8207-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 requiring the department of health to evaluate and make recommendations related to maternal health care and birthing best practices; to amend a chapter of the laws of 2024 requiring the department of health to convene a mater- nal health care and birthing standards workgroup, as proposed in legis- lative bills numbers S. 7702-A and A. 8207-A, in relation to the effec- tiveness thereof; and to repeal section 1 of such chapter
Purpose
This is a chapter amendment that makes changes to L.2024, c.661, to clarify provisions related to creating a workgroup to make recommenda- tions on the development of maternal health care and birthing standards within the Department of Health (DOH).
Summary of provisions
This bill amends the underlying chapter to eliminate the formal work- group and require the Commissioner of Health to consult with stakehold- ers to evaluate and make recommendations on maternal health care and birthing best practices to ensure quality care. The Commissioner is directed to publish the recommendations on the DOH website and update all materials provided through the DOH one year after the bill's effec- tive date and as necessary going forward.
This chapter amendment also makes technical changes to eliminate the word study to clarify that the agency is not conducting a formal inquiry into the issue and extends the effective date to 180 days after it is signed into law.
Justification
This legislation is a negotiated change to the underlying chapter.
Legislative history
Chapter amendment to Chapter 661 of the Laws of 2024. S.7702-A and A.8207-A both passed the Senate and Assembly during the 2024 Legislative Session.
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that sections one and two of this act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2024 requiring the department of health to convene a maternal health care and birthing standards work- group, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.7702-A and A. 8207-A, takes effect.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.