Senate Bill 1181 Summary

• Establishes a voluntary state certification program for doulas administered by the Arizona Department of Health Services, allowing trained nonmedical professionals to provide physical, emotional, and informational support to families before, during, and after childbirth.

• Requires certified doula applicants to complete at least 30 hours of instruction in core competencies (including childbirth process, postpartum care, trauma-informed care, and cultural practices), observe one birth, attend three births as primary support person with evaluations, and obtain first aid/CPR certification.

• Sets doula certificate validity at three years with renewal requiring 15 hours of continuing education; allows waivers of training requirements for applicants with current certification from nationally recognized doula organizations.

• Establishes a Doula Community Advisory Committee of at least nine doulas representing diverse communities to advise on implementation and recommend acceptable certifying organizations, with the committee terminating July 1, 2029.

• Clarifies that doula certification is voluntary and does not require state certification to practice as a doula; prohibits the state from providing contract preferences for state-certified doulas or employers of state-certified doulas.