Introduced By: Representatives George, Palangio, Barr, Quick and C. Levesque
Date Introduced : February 2, 1999
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 23-13-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-13 entitled "Maternal and Child Health Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs" is hereby amended to read as follows:
23-13-9. Licensing and regulation of midwives -- Penalty
for violations. -- The state director of health is hereby
authorized and directed to make rules for the regulation of the
practice of midwifery and for the licensing of midwives {DEL . DEL}
{ADD , including regulations which require the payment of an initial
application fee equal to that fee which is imposed upon applicants
for licensure as nurse practitioners and a renewal fee also equivalent
to that for nurse practitioners. ADD}The rules regarding the regulation
of the practice of midwifery shall authorize a licensed nurse-midwife
to prescribe such medications as might be reasonably required
by his or her patients; provided however, that a nurse-midwife
shall prescribe any of those medications as authorized by a list
prepared by the director of health. The provisions of this section
relating to prescription by nurse-midwives shall be overseen by
the department of health. No person not a licensed midwife or
a physician, registered under the provisions of chapter 37 of
title 5, shall practice midwifery or shall make a practice of
attending women in childbirth for hire, or use the name or title
of midwife. Any person who violates the provisions of this section
or who violates any of the rules of the department of health made
in pursuance hereof shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars
($100), or imprisoned not more than six (6) months, or both, and
the director of health may revoke the license issued to any person
when, in the opinion of the director of health, that person is
guilty of unprofessional conduct.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
