{"AmendmentNumber":"504","ParentBillNumber":"H5562","Bill":null,"Sponsor":{"Id":"MCD1","Name":"Marjorie C. Decker","Type":1,"Details":"https://malegislature.gov/api/GeneralCourts/194/LegislativeMembers/MCD1","ResponseDate":"2026-07-06T14:48:47.197"},"Category":null,"Action":"Consolidated","RollCall":[],"Title":"Midwifery Workforce Development Fund","Branch":"House","RedraftNumber":null,"IsFurther":false,"GeneralCourtNumber":194,"Text":"Ms. Decker of Cambridge moves to amend the bill by adding the following section: \r\nSECTION XX: Chapter 10 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 35TTT the following section:-\r\nSection 35UUU. (a) There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund known as the Midwifery Workforce Development Fund. The fund shall be administered by the secretary of the executive office of health and human services in consultation with the advisory committee established pursuant to subsection (d); provided, that the secretary may delegate administration of part or all of the fund to an organization representing certified professional midwives. There shall be credited to the fund: (i) revenue from appropriations or other money authorized by the general court and specifically designated to be credited to the fund; (ii) federal grants and other federal funds designated for maternal health; (iii) interest earned on such revenues; and (iv) all other funds from public and private sources credited or transferred into the fund, including gifts, public or private grants, settlements and donations. Any unexpended balance in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund and shall remain available for expenditure in subsequent fiscal years. No expenditure made from the fund shall cause the fund to become deficient at any point. Any fiscal year-end balance in the fund that is subject to appropriation shall not be subject to section 5C of chapter 29. The fund shall not be subject to appropriation.\r\n(b) Expenditures from the fund shall be used for:\r\n(i) providing assistance to students in education and training programs to qualify them to become licensed certified professional midwives, including, but not limited to:\r\n(A) 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;\r\n(B) costs related to obtaining an applicable license, including, but not limited to, examination and licensing fees;\r\n(C) stipends for program participants; and\r\n(D) stipends for childcare and transportation for program participants;\r\n(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;\r\n(iii) a grant program to fund local initiatives supporting the development of educational programs for certified professional midwives;\r\n(iv) retention of practicing midwives, and mental health and psychosocial support for certified professional midwives and certified nurse midwives; and\r\n(v) with the approval of the advisory committee, other purposes consistent with the goals of the fund.\r\n(c) 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. 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. The report may also include analysis and recommendations prepared by the advisory committee, which may include recommendations for changes to this section. The report shall be published on the public web site of the executive office of health and human services or the department of public health.\r\n(d) There shall be an advisory committee to make recommendations concerning the operation and expenditures of the fund. The 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.\r\n"}