2015 -- H 5583

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES

     Introduced By: Representatives Handy, Blazejewski, Regunberg, Williams, and

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2015

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 23-13-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-13 entitled "Maternal

and Child Health Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs" is hereby amended to

read as follows:

     23-13-9. Licensing and regulation of midwives -- Penalty for violations. -- The state

director of health is authorized and directed to make rules for the regulation of the practice of

midwifery and for the licensing of midwives, including regulations which require the payment of

an initial application fee equal to that fee which is imposed upon applicants for licensure as nurse

practitioners and a renewal fee also equivalent to that for nurse practitioners. The rules regarding

the regulation of the practice of midwifery shall authorize a licensed nurse-midwife or a licensed

midwife certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board to prescribe medications that

might be reasonably required by his or her patients; provided however, that a nurse- the midwife

or licensed midwife shall prescribe any of those medications as authorized by a list prepared by

the director of health. The provisions of this section relating to prescription by nurse-midwives

shall be overseen by the department of health. No person not a licensed midwife or a physician,

registered under the provisions of chapter 37 of title 5, shall practice midwifery or shall make a

practice of attending women in childbirth for hire, or use the name or title of midwife. Any

person who violates the provisions of this section or who violates any of the rules of the

department of health made in pursuance of this section shall be fined not more than one hundred

dollars ($100), or imprisoned not more than six (6) months, or both, and the director of health

may revoke the license issued to any person when, in the opinion of the director of health, that

person is guilty of unprofessional conduct.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES

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     This act would authorize licensed midwives certified by the American Midwifery

Certification Board to prescribe medications authorized by the department of health to his or her

patient.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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