A bill (HB 1267) that would have removed the written collaborative agreement requirement for Certified Nurse Midwives was defeated in the House Health and Human Services Committee on February 14, 2007 by a vote of 9 to 4. South Dakota Certified Nurse Midwives and home birth consumers were behind this bill.

The Independent Midwifery Practice Act (HB 1207), which would have allowed Certified Professional Midwives to become licensed in South Dakota, was heard in the House Health and Human Services committee on February 12, 2007. It was passed to the House floor by a vote of 7 to 5. A hostile amendment was placed on the bill that required midwives to carry malpractice insurance.

The House debated this bill on February 14, 2007 for approximately 30 minutes before defeating the bill by a vote of to 42 to 28. An amendment that clarified the use of medications by midwives was passed during the debate,
and an amendment to remove the malpractice insurance requirement was defeated.

Even though the bill was defeated, great strides for midwifery were made in South Dakota this year. The issue of midwifery was brought to the House floor for the first time since 1979.

Midwifery supporters have educated many legislators on this issue and have gained many supporters this year. Several legislators have promised to work with midwifery consumers in the coming year in order to write legislation that will have a better chance of being enacted by the State of South Dakota. Midwifery will be back in the South Dakota legislature next year!

[You can read the text of the bills and listen to the testimony at the state’s website: www.legis.state.sd.us]