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Senate Bill 17

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Last Action	03/12/25: reported favorably, to Rules
Title	AN ACT relating to freestanding birthing centers.
Bill Documents	Current/Final Introduced
Bill Request Number	1070
Sponsors	S. Funke Frommeyer, J. Adams, C. Armstrong, K. Herron, A. Mays Bledsoe, G. Neal, S. Rawlings, L. Tichenor
Summary of Original Version	Create a new section of KRS Chapter 216B to define "freestanding birthing center"; require the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to promulgate administrative regulations to establish licensure standards for freestanding birthing centers; establish criteria for a medical director; establish requirements for obtaining written informed consent; require a written patient transfer agreement with a hospital that provides obstetric services; require a written patient transfer agreement with an emergency medical transportation service; exempt a center with no more than four beds from certificate-of-need requirements for establishing and licensing a freestanding birthing center; state intent not to limit or expand liability of a center or health care provider or facility; require medical malpractice insurance for freestanding birthing centers; prohibit abortions in freestanding birthing centers; amend KRS 216B.015 to include freestanding birthing centers in the definition of "health facility"; amend KRS 216B.020, 196.173, 211.122, 211.647, 211.660, 213.046, 214.155, 214.565, 214.567, 214.569, 216.2920, 216.2921, 216.2923, 216.2925, 216.2927, and 216.2970 to conform; require the cabinet to promulgate updated administrative regulations by December 1, 2025; provide that the Act may be cited as the Mary Carol Akers Birth Centers Act.
Index Headings of Original Version	Health and Medical Services - Birthing centers, freestanding, licensing and certificate of need Hospitals and Nursing Homes - Birthing centers, freestanding, licensing and certificate of need Licensing - Birthing centers, freestanding, licensing and certificate of need Nurses - Birthing centers, freestanding, licensing and certificate of need Physicians and Practitioners - Birthing centers, freestanding, licensing and certificate of need Reproductive Issues - Birthing centers, freestanding, licensing and certificate of need Administrative Regulations and Proceedings - Cabinet for Health and Family Services, freestanding birthing centers, licensure Short Titles and Popular Names - Mary Carol Akers Birth Centers Act
Votes	Vote History

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01/07/25	introduced in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)
01/09/25	to Health Services (S)
02/05/25	reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
02/06/25	2nd reading, to Rules posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, February 07, 2025
02/07/25	3rd reading, passed 34-0-3
02/12/25	received in House to Committee on Committees (H)
02/28/25	taken from Committee on Committees (H) 1st reading returned to Committee on Committees (H)
03/04/25	taken from Committee on Committees (H) 2nd reading returned to Committee on Committees (H)
03/07/25	to Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations (H)
03/12/25	reported favorably, to Rules

Last updated: 4/1/2025 2:25 PM (EDT)