Florida SB 1456: Firearm Offenses

Bill Text

1456 
Doula Workforce Development 
2026-01-08T08:44:07Z 
Establishing the Doula Workforce Development Support Program within the Department of Commerce to provide grants and technical assistance to eligible doula training entities for a specified purpose; requiring the department to prioritize support to high-need regions; specifying authorized uses of the grant funds; requiring the department to submit annual reports to the Governor and the Legislature by a specified date, etc. 
Original Filed Version 
2026 
S 
2026-07-01T00:00:00Z 
GB 
General Bill 
__ 

 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1456 

 By Senator Osgood 

 32-01247-26 20261456__ 
 1 A bill to be entitled 
 2 An act relating to doula workforce development; 
 3 creating s. 445.0075, F.S.; providing legislative 
 4 findings and intent; defining terms; establishing the 
 5 Doula Workforce Development Support Program within the 
 6 Department of Commerce to provide grants and technical 
 7 assistance to eligible doula training entities for a 
 8 specified purpose; requiring the department to 
 9 prioritize support to high-need regions; providing for 
 10 the grant of awards under the program; specifying 
 11 authorized uses of the grant funds; prohibiting the 
 12 department from using the funds for specified 
 13 purposes; requiring the department to adopt rules for 
 14 the administration of the program; requiring the 
 15 department to consider specified factors in developing 
 16 grant criteria; requiring the department to submit 
 17 annual reports to the Governor and the Legislature by 
 18 a specified date; providing requirements for the 
 19 report; authorizing the department to require grant 
 20 recipients to submit certain data; authorizing the 
 21 department to adopt rules; providing an appropriation; 
 22 providing an effective date. 
 23 
 24 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 
 25 
 26 Section 1. Section 445.0075, Florida Statutes, is created 
 27 to read: 
 28 445.0075 Doula Workforce Development Support Program.— 
 29 (1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.— 
 30 (a) The Legislature finds that: 
 31 1. This state continues to experience persistent maternal 
 32 morbidity and mortality disparities that disproportionately 
 33 affect Black, Brown, rural, and low-income communities. 
 34 2. Doulas have been shown to improve maternal and infant 
 35 health outcomes, reduce preventable complications, increase 
 36 prenatal care engagement, and strengthen postpartum recovery. 
 37 3. Existing doula training organizations, community-based 
 38 doula programs, nonprofit entities, and private educational 
 39 institutions serve a critical role in building a maternal health 
 40 workforce but are under-resourced. 
 41 4. Supporting these entities through the state’s workforce 
 42 development infrastructure is essential to meeting regional 
 43 maternal health needs, especially in urban high-disparity 
 44 counties, rural maternity-care deserts, and regions experiencing 
 45 hospital closures or obstetric service reductions. 
 46 (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to strengthen the 
 47 state’s doula workforce by supporting the organizations that 
 48 train, mentor, and deploy doulas, and to expand economic and 
 49 small-business opportunities for community-based birth workers 
 50 through the Department of Commerce. 
 51 (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 
 52 (a) “Department” means the Department of Commerce. 
 53 (b) “Doula” means a nonmedical birth support professional 
 54 trained to give physical and emotional support during 
 55 childbirth. 
 56 (c) “Doula training entity” means a nonprofit organization, 
 57 community-based program, training collective, academic 
 58 institution, or private educational provider that conducts doula 
 59 training, mentoring, continuing education, or workforce 
 60 placement activities. 
 61 (d) “Doula workforce support services” means instructor 
 62 compensation, curriculum development, program expansion, 
 63 administrative support, business development training for 
 64 doulas, mentoring, apprenticeship structures, evaluation and 
 65 data activities, and related capacity-building functions. 
 66 (e) “High-need region” means a county or region identified 
 67 by the department as having elevated maternal morbidity rates, 
 68 limited numbers of maternity care providers, or insufficient 
 69 doula availability. 
 70 (3) PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT.— 
 71 (a) The Doula Workforce Development Support Program is 
 72 established within the department to provide grants and 
 73 technical assistance to eligible doula training entities for the 
 74 purpose of expanding the state’s doula workforce. 
 75 (b) The program shall prioritize support for entities 
 76 serving high-need regions, including: 
 77 1. Urban counties with high maternal morbidity disparities. 
 78 2. Rural areas with limited or no obstetric providers or 
 79 maternity wards. 
 80 3. Communities affected by rece