Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
House hearing on HB 520 probes midwife licensure, safety, and access; Department of Public Health urges guardrails
Summary
House Bill 520 (hearing only) would create licensure and an advisory board for direct-entry/community midwives; testimony from midwives, mothers, clinicians and the Department of Public Health highlighted competing concerns about access, safety, grandfathering pathways, and scope of the advisory board's authority.
Representative Maziak presented House Bill 520 as a hearing-only bill to create a licensure framework for direct-entry/community midwives and an advisory board to regulate midwifery practice outside hospitals.
The author opened by describing concerns about "bad actors" practicing without standardized oversight and noted historical changes in Georgia regulation: non‑nurse midwife certification previously existed in Title 31 but ended when certified nurse‑midwife programs expanded. The bill would repeal the old chapter and move licensure under Title 43 (professions and licensing), establish an advisory board, set licensure pathways and renewal requirements, and create penalties and informed‑consent requirements for persons who call themselves "midwives" without the required training or license.
Witnesses supporting licensure described clinical training and outcomes for licensed and credentialed midwives. Sakissa Berry and Missy Burgess (certified professional midwife) explained differences between doulas, nurse‑midwives (CNMs), and direct‑entry…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
