As many of you know, we tried to get a bill exempting breastfeeding mothers from jury duty introduced this year. Unfortunately, our sponsor felt there was not enough support for the bill, and he did not introduce it. The bill suggested by the West River women was also not introduced for the same reason. Their bill was much broader, exempting any caregiver of a child under the age of ten and those caring for disabled or elderly.

We also wanted to introduce a bill that would have required hospitals, doctors, and midwives to disclose their cesarean and induction rates. This bill did not get written, because of the time-consuming research that was needed to make this idea into a good bill.

We are getting a running start for the 2007 legislative session. Planning began back in 2005 for a successful 2007 session. The Legislative Workshop in April is key to passing our legislation. Our plan is to bring a bill that would allow CPMs to practice in South Dakota. Much research and thought will be going into this bill. Work has started on it already, but there is still a lot of work to do on it. We may also bring the bill exempting breastfeeding mothers from jury duty and the cesarean and induction rate disclosure bill back again next year as well. Right now we are keeping the door open for these pieces of legislation.

As of right now, there are twenty-one states that use the CPM as all or part of their licensure or registration mechanism. Utah and Virginia passed CPM legislation in 2005. Wisconsin just passed a bill this past month that allows CPMs to practice in that state. It is awaiting their governor’s signature. Missouri has CPM legislation pending right now in its legislature. Indiana had introduced a CPM bill this year, but it was defeated. They will try again next year. Virginia is trying to expand their CPM statute this year to allow them to carry certain medications. Oklahoma has a bill ready to submit to their legislature, but it is not certain whether they will actually submit it or not. Georgia Friends of Midwives is preparing to bring CPM legislation to their legislature next year. They are working on a Study Resolution, which is a way to educate legislators before the bill is submitted.

More and more states are passing midwifery legislation. It will happen in South Dakota as well. What is needed now is knowledge about how to effectively communicate with our legislators. The Legislative Workshop will provide this knowledge. Please come and help us make a difference.