SF 1737

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/08/2017 09:16am

A bill for an act
relating to health; appropriating money for a grant program for culturally
appropriate birth support services and doula services.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin GRANT PROGRAM FOR CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE BIRTH
SUPPORT SERVICES AND DOULA SERVICES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Grant program established. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of health shall establish
and administer a two-year grant program to provide culturally appropriate birth support
services and doula services for pregnant women who are Black, of African descent, or from
indigenous backgrounds in order to lower birth disparities in communities most impacted
by poor birth outcomes. The commissioner shall issue competitive grants to eligible
organizations using a request for proposal process.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligible organizations. new text end

new text begin To be eligible for grant funds under this section, an
organization must:
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new text begin (1) be based in the community it serves and use members of the community it serves to
provide birth support services;
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new text begin (2) have people from communities of color serve as at least 50 percent of the
organization's staff and service providers;
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new text begin (3) have provided doula services in the community being served for at least one year;
new text end

new text begin (4) have at least 90 percent of clients that receive doula services be Black, of African
descent, or from indigenous backgrounds;
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new text begin (5) have at least 90 percent of clients that receive doula services have health care coverage
through medical assistance; and
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new text begin (6) ensure that providers of birth support services are also trained in mental health
support.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Services. new text end

new text begin Grant funds disbursed under this section must be used to fund:
new text end

new text begin (1) doula services and birth support services;
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new text begin (2) home visiting services;
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new text begin (3) costs related to office visits to a health care provider;
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new text begin (4) one-to-one and group prenatal education services;
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new text begin (5) costs related to linking clients to other community resources; and
new text end

new text begin (6) mental health support services.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; GRANT PROGRAM FOR CULTURALLY
APPROPRIATE BIRTH SUPPORT AND DOULA SERVICES.
new text end

new text begin $250,000 in fiscal year 2018 and $250,000 in fiscal year 2019 are appropriated from the
general fund to the commissioner of health for grants to eligible organizations to provide
culturally appropriate birth support services and doula services to pregnant women who are
Black, of African descent, or from indigenous backgrounds in order to lower birth disparities
in these communities. The commissioner may use up to six percent of the appropriation for
administration. This is a onetime appropriation.
new text end