SB414 Summary

• Establishes a State Board of Midwifery consisting of seven members: four certified professional midwives (NARM credential), one physician, and two consumer representatives, appointed by the Governor with staggered 1-4 year terms.

• Defines midwifery as provision of primary care and education to women and infants during pregnancy and childbirth on a continuing basis, explicitly stating midwifery is not the practice of medicine.

• Requires licensed midwives to disclose information to clients including credentials, services offered, grievance procedures, and a mandatory informed consent notice describing risks of out-of-hospital birth and liability limitations.

• Prohibits licensed midwives from administering epidurals, spinal anesthesia, narcotic analgesia, using forceps or vacuum extractors, inducing abortion, or performing cesarean sections.

• Makes unlicensed practice of midwifery a Class C misdemeanor, with exceptions for nurse midwives, trainees assisting licensed midwives, and family members providing gratuitous childbirth assistance; repeals previous midwifery sections 34-19-2 through 34-19-10.