File #: Int 1209-2018    Version: Name: Requiring the department of correction to utilize doula services.
Type: Introduction Status: Enacted
Committee: Committee on Criminal Justice
On agenda: 10/31/2018
Enactment date: 9/26/2021 Law number: 2021/095
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of correction to utilize doula services
Sponsors: Helen K. Rosenthal, Alicka Ampry-Samuel , Robert E. Cornegy, Jr., Diana I. Ayala, Kalman Yeger , Brad S. Lander, James F. Gennaro, Vanessa L. Gibson, Laurie A. Cumbo, Karen Koslowitz, Carlina Rivera , Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Kevin C. Riley, Farah N. Louis, Inez D. Barron
Council Member Sponsors: 15
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Correction (“DOC”) to retain an organization to provide doula services to incarcerated individuals twice a week, as well as during labor and delivery. DOC would be required to issue a report every six months regarding the delivery of doula services. This bill would also create a working group to review relevant reports and discuss ways to improve communication, collaboration, and efficiency related to pregnant individuals in custody.
Indexes: Council Appointment Required, Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1209-A, 2. Summary of Int. No. 1209, 3. Int. No. 1209, 4. October 31, 2018 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files, 5. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 10-31-2018, 6. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - October 31, 2018, 7. Committee Report 4/27/21, 8. Hearing Testimony 4/27/21, 9. Hearing Transcript 4/27/21, 10. Proposed Int. No. 1209-A - 8/25/21, 11. Committee Report 8/26/21, 12. Hearing Transcript 8/26/21, 13. Committee Report - Stated Meeting, 14. August 26, 2021 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files, 15. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 8-26-21, 16. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - August 26, 2021, 17. Int. No. 1209-A (FINAL), 18. Fiscal Impact Statement, 19. Legislative Documents - Letter to the Mayor, 20. Local Law 95
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
9/27/2021AHelen K. Rosenthal City Council Returned Unsigned by Mayor  Action details Meeting details Not available
9/26/2021AHelen K. Rosenthal Administration City Charter Rule Adopted  Action details Meeting details Not available
8/26/2021AHelen K. Rosenthal City Council Sent to Mayor by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
8/26/2021AHelen K. Rosenthal City Council Approved by CouncilPass Action details Meeting details Not available
8/26/2021*Helen K. Rosenthal Committee on Criminal Justice Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
8/26/2021*Helen K. Rosenthal Committee on Criminal Justice Amendment Proposed by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available
8/26/2021*Helen K. Rosenthal Committee on Criminal Justice Amended by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
8/26/2021AHelen K. Rosenthal Committee on Criminal Justice Approved by CommitteePass Action details Meeting details Not available
4/27/2021*Helen K. Rosenthal Committee on Women and Gender Equity Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/27/2021*Helen K. Rosenthal Committee on Women and Gender Equity Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/27/2021*Helen K. Rosenthal Committee on Criminal Justice Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/27/2021*Helen K. Rosenthal Committee on Criminal Justice Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
10/31/2018*Helen K. Rosenthal City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
10/31/2018*Helen K. Rosenthal City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Int. No. 1209-A

 

By Council Members Rosenthal, Ampry-Samuel, Cornegy, Ayala, Yeger, Lander, Gennaro, Gibson, Cumbo, Koslowitz, Rivera, Brooks-Powers, Riley, Louis and Barron

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of correction to utilize doula services

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 9 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 9-161 to read as follows:

§ 9-161 Doula services. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the term “doula” means a trained person who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a pregnant person and the family before, during or shortly after childbirth, for the purpose of assisting a pregnant person through the birth experience; or a trained person who supports the family of a newborn during the first days and weeks after childbirth, providing evidence-based information, practical help and advice to the family on newborn care, self-care and nurturing of the new family unit.

b. The department shall retain an organization to make at least two doulas at any given time available to provide doula services twice a week, for four hours, at all department facilities that house incarcerated persons who identify as female, as well as to provide doula services during labor and delivery, upon request.

c. The department shall ensure that doula services are available at a frequency to be determined by factors including available department resources and exigent circumstances. The department shall permit doulas to access the nursery, as defined in section 9-142, to access areas where programming is typically provided and to accompany incarcerated individuals to medical appointments, upon request. All known pregnant individuals in the custody of the department are permitted to utilize doula services in labor, delivery and postpartum rooms. Prior to their entry into a departmental facility, doulas shall be subject to the department’s service provider processing security clearance protocol.

d. No later than January 15, 2023 and every six months thereafter, the department shall provide to the speaker of the council and publish on its website, in a machine readable format, a report on the number of doula service hours provided, the types of services provided, and the number of incarcerated individuals served in the previous six month period.

e. No later than January 31, 2023, the commissioner of correction shall convene a working group composed of the speaker of the city council or the speaker’s designee; commissioner of correction or the commissioner’s designee; representatives from the department of health and mental hygiene; representatives from the organization providing doula services pursuant to subdivision b of this section; and department staff who regularly work on programming for incarcerated persons who identify as female. Until August 31, 2029, the working group shall meet every six months to review the reports required by subdivision d of this section, review relevant reports issued by the organization providing doula services, consider any reports issued by city agencies regarding maternal health and discuss improving communication, collaboration and efficiency related to pregnant individuals in custody. After September 1, 2029, the working group shall meet at least once a year to review relevant the reports required by subdivision d of this section, review relevant reports issued by the organization providing doula services, consider any reports issued by city agencies regarding maternal health and discuss improving communication, collaboration and efficiency related to pregnant individuals in custody.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law.

 

 

RQ/BM/AM

LS # 7811

8/18/21 10:51pm