HB 575/SB 633 Birth Center Licensure Act

Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Greg Murphy (R-Pitt), Rep. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth), Rep. Josh Dobson (R-Avery), Rep. Donna White (R-Johnston)

Primary Senate Sponsors: Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Madison), Sen. Joyce Krawiec (R-Forsyth), Sen Mike Woodard (D-Durham)

Bill Summary

This bill establishes a licensure process and annual license fees for birth centers.

The bill allows DHHS to make inspections of birth centers as necessary to investigate unexpected occurrences involving death or serious physical injury. The bill allows information received by the Commission and the Department through filed reports, license applications, or inspections to be displayed publicly.

The bill creates the NC Birth Center Commission. The Commission would have the ability to do the following:

  • Adopt rules establishing the standards for licensure, operation, and regulation of birth centers.
  • Review and make recommendations to DHHS about approval of birth center applications

The Commission will consist of 7 members including the following:

  • NC OBGYN shall elect 3 members who are licensed physicians with at least 2 years of experience working with birth centers
  • NC Affiliate of the American College of Nurse Midwives shall elect 3 members with at least 2 years of experience working with birth centers
  • Governor shall appoint one public member

The Commission shall be responsible for rule setting.

Bill Movement

House

This bill was filed on April 3, 2019.

This bill was referred to the following Committees on April 4. 2019:

  • Health
    • This bill passed on April 30, 2019.
  • Finance
    • This bill was calendared to be heard on June 19, 2019.
    • A committee substitute passed on June 26, 2019.
  • Rules
    • This bill passed on July 8, 2019.

This bill was withdrawn from the House calendar on July 9, 2019.

This bill passed in the House with a vote of 114-1 and will now be sent to the Senate.

Senate

This bill was filed in the Senate on April 3, 2019.

This bill was referred to the Senate Rules Committee on April 4, 2019.