SB246 Summary

• Establishes a State Board of Midwifery consisting of seven members (four certified professional midwives, one physician, two consumers of midwifery services) to license and regulate midwifery practice in Alabama.

• Requires licensed midwives to hold valid Certified Professional Midwife credentials from the North American Registry of Midwives, be at least 21 years old, and provide written informed consent forms to clients detailing education, services, and liability information.

• Prohibits unlicensed practice of midwifery for compensation as a Class C misdemeanor; exempts certified nurse midwives, trainees, and those providing gratuitous assistance to family members.

• Establishes licensure fees (24-month validity), continuing education requirements, and board authority to suspend or revoke licenses; sets administrative fines up to $1,000 for rule violations.

• Amends birth certificate filing procedures to allow licensed midwives to file certificates and modifies massage therapy regulations to exclude midwifery from that definition.