Senate committee advances bill to statutorily create Arizona maternal mortality review program
Summary
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted to give SB 13‑16 a favorable recommendation to establish the Maternal Mortality Review Program and committee in statute, formalize membership and data duties, and provide review protections for attendees.
The Arizona Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 13‑16, which would statutorily establish a Maternal Mortality Review Program and a Maternal Mortality Review Committee to evaluate the incidence, causes and preventability of pregnancy‑associated deaths in Arizona.
Supporters told the committee the bill formalizes work already being carried out by the Department of Health Services and would require the program to develop a data collection system, coordinate committee case reviews and produce a statistical report on pregnancy‑related deaths “by May 15 of each even numbered year.” Jessie Arment of March of Dimes said DHS is already implementing the committee “as is described in this bill,” but that codifying the committee in statute will help ensure continuity and legislative oversight.
Senator Messner, who joined proponents in speaking in favor, described personal reasons for supporting the bill and noted maternal mortality’s contribution to U.S. life‑expectancy concerns. Volunteer Bonnie Wong, testifying for March of Dimes, recounted her own high‑risk pregnancy and postpartum depression and said maternal mental health is “a leading cause of pregnancy associated deaths, and 90 percent are deemed preventable.” Wong urged the committee to vote SB 13‑16 out.
Committee members asked few substantive questions. The committee adopted a Warner amendment described in committee as a technical correction, then voted the bill out of committee with a due‑pass recommendation; the clerk recorded 6 ayes, 0 no, 1 not voting.
The bill would also grant the maternal mortality review program, on request of its chair, access to information and records tied to child fatalities and maternal fatalities being reviewed, and it would protect members and presenters from being questioned in civil or criminal proceedings about information presented at program meetings.
The committee record shows proponents emphasized early identification of data‑driven prevention strategies and the value of separating the work from a broader child‑fatality task force so maternal issues receive focused attention. Opposing or abstaining committee comments were not recorded in the transcript.
If enacted, the measure would require DHS to publish a biennial statistical report and to provide training and coordination for agencies that participate in case review.
