STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________

7779

2023-2024 Regular Sessions

IN SENATE

December 1, 2023 ___________

Introduced by Sen. BROUK -- 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 the creation of a community doula expansion grant program; and to amend the state finance law, in relation to the community doula expansion grant program fund

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows:

1 Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby declares that 2 poor maternal and infant health outcomes, especially when it comes to 3 racial disparities, are a public health crisis that pose a threat to the 4 health, welfare, and quality of life of child bearing people, infants 5 and their families. The legislature hereby acknowledges that community- 6 based doula care is one solution in addressing this public health 7 crisis. The legislature also acknowledges imbalances in how doula care 8 is accessed in different communities. The legislature also acknowledges 9 how doulas in the BIPOC community are integrated, or lack integration 10 into the maternal health continuum. The legislature acknowledges that 11 those seeking to become community-based doulas face a multitude of 12 barriers, including institutional barriers, within the healthcare 13 continuum. The legislature hereby finds the importance in establishing a 14 dedicated fund to support community-based doulas and community-based 15 doula organizations. This fund would be assisting those trying to navi- 16 gate the Federal and State Medicaid frameworks for doula care to become 17 community-based doulas. Which would be one step in solving the existing 18 barriers to those seeking equitable prenatal, intranatal, and postpartum 19 care services. 20 § 2. Article 25 of the public health law is amended by adding a new 21 title 3-A to read as follows: 22 TITLE III-A 23 COMMUNITY DOULA EXPANSION PROGRAM

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD13594-01-3

S. 7779 2

1 Section 2560. Community doula expansion grant program. 2 2561. Definitions. 3 2562. Rules and regulations. 4 2563. Report. 5 § 2560. Community doula expansion grant program. The community doula 6 expansion grant program is established within the department. 7 § 2561. Definitions. As used in this title: 8 1. "Eligible providers" shall mean community-based organizations 9 providing for the recruitment, training, licensing, supporting, and/or 10 mentoring of community-based doulas. 11 2. "Community-based doula" shall mean a certified doula that provides 12 culturally sensitive pregnancy and childbirth education, early linkage 13 to health care, and aids birthing persons in navigating other services 14 and supports that they may need to be healthy. 15 § 2562. Rules and regulations. 1. The commissioner shall establish a 16 community doula expansion grant program for eligible providers to 17 receive funding in the performance of recruitment, training, licensing, 18 supporting, and/or mentoring of community-based doulas. Such eligible 19 providers shall meet professionally recognized training standards, 20 comply with applicable state law and regulations, and shall be capable 21 of providing culturally congruent care. 22 2. The commissioner is authorized, within amounts appropriated for 23 such purpose, to make grants in accordance with this subdivision. Such 24 grants may be used for but not limited to the administration, faculty 25 recruitment and development, start-up costs and other costs incurred for 26 providing recruitment, training, licensing, supporting, and/or mentoring 27 of community-based doulas. 28 3. There shall be an emphasis of appropriating grants to eligible 29 providers that specifically train, recruit, and employ doulas from 30 historically vulnerable communities, BIPOC doulas, and bilingual doulas. 31 This can include grants for doula apprentice programs. 32 4. The commissioner shall create and maintain an awareness and 33 outreach program. The awareness and outreach program shall be estab- 34 lished for the purpose of providing education and awareness of the 35 available grants and funds to eligible providers in the state. 36 § 2563. Report. The commissioner shall establish a comprehensive list 37 of reporting metrics to be included in a report due on December thirty- 38 first, two thousand twenty-four and annually thereafter, to the gover- 39 nor, to the temporary president of the senate, and to the speaker of the 40 assembly. The report shall include the comprehensive list of reporting 41 metrics and shall include, but not be limited to, the total amount of 42 grants issued, the number of eligible providers, and the region of the 43 state where the eligible provider is located. 44 § 3. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 99-rr to 45 read as follows: 46 § 99-rr. Community doula expansion grant program fund. 1. There is 47 hereby established in the joint custody of the state comptroller and 48 commissioner of taxation and finance a special fund to be known as the 49 "Community doula expansion grant program fund". 50 2. Such fund shall consist of all monies appropriated thereto from any 51 other fund or source pursuant to law. Nothing contained in this section 52 shall prevent the state from receiving grants, gifts or bequests for the 53 purposes of the fund as defined in this section and depositing them into 54 the fund according to law.

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1 3. Monies shall be payable from the fund on the audit and warrant of 2 the comptroller on vouchers approved and certified by the commissioner 3 of health. 4 4. The monies in such fund shall be expended for the community doula 5 expansion grant program in accordance with the provisions of section 6 twenty-five hundred sixty-two of the public health law. 7 § 4. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall 8 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or 9 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of 10 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed 11 on or before such effective date.