HB67 Summary

• Grants women the right to autonomy and self-determination in choosing where and with whom to give birth, including the option of physiologic childbirth outside hospital or medical facility settings.

• Defines "midwife" as a person holding current midwifery certification from an Institute for Credentialing Excellence-accredited organization who provides support, education, or assistance to women choosing physiologic childbirth outside hospitals or medical facilities.

• Provides criminal immunity to midwives assisting in childbirth, preventing prosecution for practicing as an unlicensed health care provider in Alabama.

• Grants civil immunity to licensed physicians, nurses, pre-hospital emergency personnel, and health care institutions for any acts or omissions resulting from a woman's decision to have physiologic childbirth outside a hospital or medical facility.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and gubernatorial approval.