Amendment #359 to H5500

Midwifery Workforce Development Fund

Ms. Sabadosa of Northampton moves to amend the bill in section 2, by inserting after line-item 4000-1700 the following item:

XXXX-XXXX: For a Midwifery Workforce Development Fund, administered by the secretary of the executive office of health and human services in consultation with an advisory committee, that shall consist of the following members: a representative of the Massachusetts chapter of the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives, who shall serve as chair; a representative of the American College of Nurse Midwives; a member of the Pregnancy, Infancy and Early Childhood Division of the Department of Public Health; a representative of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers; and the following members chosen by the chair: a representative of a midwifery educational program; a representative of a community college; a representative of an organization concerned about reproductive justice and health equity; a representative of a safety net hospital; and a representative of a free-standing birth center; provided, that the fund shall serve the purpose of (i) providing assistance to students in education and training programs to qualify them to become licensed certified professional midwives, including, but not limited to: program costs, tuition, books and fees related to the cost of education and training for participants in training and educational programs, including distance learning programs and including tuition and other costs related to obtaining a midwifery degree or Midwifery Bridge Certificate; costs related to obtaining an applicable license, including, but not limited to, examination and licensing fees; stipends for program participants; and stipends for childcare and transportation for program participants; (ii) a student loan forgiveness program for certified professional midwives and certified nurse midwives; provided, that the program may require participants to practice in an underserved area or serve marginalized populations, as defined by the secretary in consultation with the advisory committee; (iii) a grant program to fund local initiatives supporting the development of educational programs for certified professional midwives; (iv) retention of practicing midwives, and mental health and psychosocial support for certified professional midwives and certified nurse midwives; and (v) with the approval of the advisory committee, other purposes consistent with the goals of the fund; provided, that annually, not later than December 1, the secretary of health and human services shall report on the activities of the fund to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate and to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, and shall publish the report on the public web site of the executive office of health and human services or the department of public health; provided further, that the report shall include (i) an accounting of expenditures made from the fund with a description of the authorized purpose of each expenditure; (ii) an accounting of amounts credited to the fund; and (iii) any unexpended balance remaining in the fund; and provided further, the report may also include analysis and recommendations prepared by the advisory committee, which may include recommendations for changes to this section. ….. $500,000