Florida Senate - 2026 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 514
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LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
02/02/2026 .
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The Committee on Health Policy (Osgood) recommended the
following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete lines 134 - 206
4 and insert:
5 (a) Subject to a specific appropriation of funds in the
6 General Appropriations Act, the Doula Support for Healthy Births
7 pilot program is established in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm
8 Beach Counties to integrate doula services into existing
9 maternal health initiatives, targeting pregnant and postpartum
10 women who have overcome or are overcoming substance use
11 disorders.
12 (b) The purpose of the pilot program is to improve birth
13 outcomes by decreasing preterm birth rates and cesarean
14 deliveries, enhancing access to care, and supporting maternal
15 well-being throughout the pregnancy, labor, and postpartum
16 periods using evidence-based methods.
17 (c) The department, through its maternal and child health
18 section, shall implement and oversee the pilot program.
19 (3) PROGRAM STRUCTURE.—
20 (a) The pilot program may operate for 12 to 24 months,
21 based on appropriated funds.
22 (b) The pilot program shall target the enrollment of
23 pregnant and postpartum women who have overcome or are
24 overcoming substance use disorders.
25 (c) The following support services must be offered under
26 the pilot program:
27 1. Prenatal support, such as educational resources,
28 personalized birth plans, and emotional support.
29 2. Labor support, such as continuous emotional support,
30 comfort measures, and communication facilitation.
31 3. Postpartum support, such as assistance with newborn
32 care, postpartum resources, and household tasks.
33 4. Advocacy support, such as assistance with preferences
34 and needs within medical settings and health care navigation.
35 5. Comprehensive emotional support during the pregnancy and
36 postpartum periods.
37 (4) COLLABORATION; INTEGRATION.—
38 (a) The department shall collaborate with:
39 1. Health care providers, community organizations,
40 community coalitions, and advocacy groups to integrate doulas
41 and doula services into existing maternal health programs,
42 ensuring that such doulas are trained and meet all of the
43 following criteria:
44 a. Demonstrate a strong understanding of the reproductive
45 system, labor process, and postpartum recovery.
46 b. Are proficient in hands-on techniques, such as massage,
47 counterpressure, breathing exercises, and nonmedicated pain
48 management.
49 c. Support a client’s birth plan, communicate effectively
50 with medical staff, and advocate for informed consent.
51 d. Provide guidance on breastfeeding, basic newborn care,
52 and both the physical and emotional aspects of postpartum
53 recovery.
54 e. Use active listening, clear communication, and conflict
55 resolution skills in interactions with clients and health care
56 providers.
57 f. Understand common medical complications and provide
58 emotional and physical support to clients in challenging
59 situations.
60 g. Uphold professionalism, ethical decisionmaking, and
61 legal responsibilities in doula practice.
62 2. Local WIC programs, hospitals, birth centers, and
63 community health centers to facilitate outreach and service
64 delivery.
65 (b) If appropriated funding is sufficient, the department
66 may integrate doula services into existing maternal and child
67 health programs as an expansion of the pilot program, focusing
68 on pregnant and postpartum women who have overcome or are
69 overcoming substance use disorders. Any such expansion of the
70 pilot program must include annual reporting requirements for the
71 department to evaluate effectiveness, equity, and quality of
72 integrating doula services into the existing maternal and child
73 health programs.
74
75 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
76 And the title is amended as follows:
77 Delete lines 6 - 21
78 and insert:
79 specified purpose, subject to a specific appropriation
80 in the General Appropriations Act; providing the
81 purpose of the pilot program; requiring the Department
82 of Health, in collaboration with its maternal and
83 child health section, to implement and oversee the
84 pilot program; specifying the duration of the pilot
85 program, based on appropriated funds; requiring the
86 pilot program to target specified populations for
87 enrollment; specifying services that must be provided
88 under the pilot program; requiring the department to
89 collaborate with specified entities to integrate doula
90 services into existing maternal health programs and
91 facilitate outreach and service delivery; authorizing
92 the department to integrate doula services into
93 existing maternal and child health programs as an
94 expansion of the pilot program, subject to certain
95 requirements; creating