HB316 Alabama 2017 Session

Under existing law, certified nurse midwives are licensed by the State Board of Nursing and the Board of Medical Examiners to practice nurse midwifery

This bill would establish a State Board of Midwifery to license and regulate the practice of certified professional midwifery

This bill would provide for the composition of the board and function of the board; specify requirements for the licensing of midwives; provide for licensing fees; and establish guidelines for the practice of midwifery

This bill also would provide for penalties for violations

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

Licensing the practice of midwifery by adding Sections 34-19-11 to 34-19-19, inclusive, to the Code of Alabama 1975; to establish a State Board of Midwifery to license and regulate the practice of certified professional midwifery; to provide for the composition of the board and function of the board; to specify requirements for the licensing of midwives and provide for licensing fees; to establish guidelines for the practice of midwifery; to provide for penalties for violations; to amend Section 22-9A-7, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to registration of births; to amend Section 34-43-3, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the definition of therapeutic massage; to repeal Sections 34-19-2 through 34-19-10, inclusive, Code of Alabama 1975; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.