Vermont H 79: An act relating to requiring postsecondary credits in African American history as a condition of teacher licensing

Bill Text

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VT LEG #379765 v.1
H.79 1
Introduced by Representative Cordes of Bristol 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Professions and occupations; community-based perinatal doulas; 5
certification 6
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to establish a 7
process of voluntary certification for community-based perinatal doulas. 8
An act relating to certification of community-based perinatal doulas 9
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 10
Sec. 1. 26 V.S.A. chapter 84 is added to read: 11
CHAPTER 84. COMMUNITY-BASED PERINATAL DOULAS 12
§ 4171. DEFINITIONS 13
As used in this chapter: 14
(1) “Certified community-based perinatal doula” means a community-15
based perinatal doula who holds a certificate issued pursuant to this chapter. 16
(2) “Community-based doula” means an individual who provides doula 17
services to under-resourced and marginalized populations at low or no cost, 18
often through a community-based agency. 19

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(3) “Community-based perinatal doula” means a community-based 1
doula who provides doula services to individuals during the perinatal period. 2
(4) “Director” means the Director of the Office of Professional 3
Regulation. 4
(5) “Doula” means a nonclinical, nonmedical individual who provides 5
direct emotional and physical support and educational and informational 6
services to birthing individuals before, during, and after labor and childbirth. 7
(6) “Perinatal” means the period of time encompassing pregnancy, 8
childbirth, and up to one year postpartum. 9
§ 4172. PROHIBITIONS; PENALTIES 10
(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit the provision of 11
doula services by a noncertified individual, provided that no person shall use in 12
connection with the person’s name any letters, words, or insignia indicating or 13
implying that the person is a State certified community-based perinatal doula 14
unless the person is certified in accordance with this chapter. 15
(b) A person who violates this section shall be subject to the penalties set 16
forth in 3 V.S.A. § 127(c). 17
§ 4173. DUTIES OF THE DIRECTOR 18
(a) The Director shall: 19
(1) provide general information to applicants for certification as certified 20
community-based perinatal doulas; 21

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(2) receive applicants for certification; grant and renew certifications in 1
accordance with this chapter; and deny, revoke, suspend, reinstate, or condition 2
certifications as directed by an administrative law officer; 3
(3) explain appeal procedures to certified community-based perinatal 4
doulas and applicants; 5
(4) explain complaint procedures to the public; 6
(5) prepare and maintain a registry of certified community-based 7
perinatal doulas; 8
(6) administer fees collected in accordance with this chapter and 9
3 V.S.A. § 125; and 10
(7) refer all disciplinary matters to an administrative law officer 11
established under 3 V.S.A. § 129(j). 12
(b) The Director, after consultation with the advisor appointees, may adopt 13
rules in accordance with 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 as needed to perform the 14
Director’s duties under this chapter. 15
§ 4174. ADVISOR APPOINTEES 16
(a) The Secretary of State shall appoint two certified community-based 17
perinatal doulas to serve as advisors in matters relating to community-based 18
perinatal doulas. The advisors shall be appointed as set forth in 3 V.S.A. 19
§ 129b and serve at the pleasure of the Secretary. One of the initial 20
appointments may be for less than a full term. Appointees shall not have less 21

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than three years’ experience providing community-based perinatal doula 1
services immediately preceding appointment and shall be actively engaged in 2
delivering community-based perinatal doula services in Vermont during 3
incumbency. 4
(b) The Director shall seek the advice of the community-based perinatal 5
doula advisors in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. The advisor 6
appointees shall be entitled to per diem compensation and reimbursement of 7
expenses as permitted under 32 V.S.A. § 1010 for attendance at any meeting 8
called by the Director for this purpose. 9
§ 4175. ELIGIBILITY 10
To be eligible for certification as a certified community-based perinatal 11
doula, an applicant shall complete and submit an application in the manner 12
prescribed by the Director by rule, accompanied by the applicable fees, and 13
evidence satisfactory to the Director that the applicant: 14
(1) is at least 18 years of age; 15
(2) has sufficient and appropriate competencies in community-based 16
perinatal doula services, whether acquired through experience, mentorship, 17
training, formal education, or a combination of these, as determined by the 18
Director by rule; and 19
(3) has passed any criminal history back