SB314 Summary

• Establishes a State Board of Midwifery composed of 7 members appointed by the Governor, including 4 certified professional midwives, 1 physician, and 2 consumer representatives, with board members serving staggered terms of 2-6 years.

• Creates a licensing system for independent midwives (Licensed Midwives or LM) who must hold valid Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credentials from the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) and meet educational requirements, with licenses valid for 24 months.

• Requires licensed midwives to provide clients with informed consent forms disclosing the midwife's credentials, services, and grievance procedures prior to providing services, and prohibits midwives from administering epidurals, narcotics, using forceps, inducing abortion, or performing cesarean sections.

• Authorizes the board to set licensing fees, investigate complaints, conduct disciplinary hearings, and impose administrative fines up to $500 per violation, with authority to suspend or revoke licenses for misconduct or scope of practice violations.

• Amends birth registration law to allow midwives to file birth certificates for out-of-institution births and makes unlicensed midwifery practice a Class C misdemeanor, with exceptions for nurse midwives, trainee assistants, and family members providing gratuitous assistance.