HB2517 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 11976 BDA 22070 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB2517

Introduced 2/4/2025, by Rep. Lisa Davis

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 2310/2310-735 new

Amends the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Public Health shall create a professional development course that addresses racial disparities in maternal health treatment and the impact of racial disparities on non-Hispanic Black and American Indian women. Provides that the course shall have a length of at least one hour. Requires the course to include education on (i) current statistics about pregnancy-related death for all racial and ethnic groups, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (ii) potential risk factors associated with women that are a part of a marginalized racial or ethnic group that has increased maternal mortality rates, and (iii) medical care plans and programs that have been demonstrated to successfully decrease maternal mortality rates and complications before and after pregnancy. Provides that the Department shall require health care professionals to complete the professional development course.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Purpose. According to the Department of Public Health, women in this State belonging to traditionally marginalized racial and ethnic groups are substantially more vulnerable and susceptible to fatal outcomes during pregnancy and birth. This risk is especially high in non-Hispanic Black and American Indian women. In this State, the maternal mortality rate for Black women is triple that of White women, and American Indian women report more maternal mental health conditions than any other racial group. Given the urgency of addressing the issue of racial disparities in maternal health among traditionally marginalized groups, the purpose of this amendatory Act is to create a professional development course that informs health care professionals of the circumstances that marginalized groups face.

Section 5. The Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 2310-735 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2310/2310-735 new)

Sec. 2310-735. Maternal mortality education.

(a) In this Section, "health care professional" means any person who works in maternal health and who is licensed or registered by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation under any one or more of the following Acts: the Medical Practice Act of 1987; the Nurse Practice Act; the Clinical Psychologist Licensing Act; the Pharmacy Practice Act; the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987; the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act; the Dietitian Nutritionist Practice Act; the Home Medical Equipment and Services Provider License Act; the Nursing Home Administrators Licensing and Disciplinary Act; the Respiratory Care Practice Act; the Professional Counselor and Clinical Professional Counselor Licensing and Practice Act; the Sex Offender Evaluation and Treatment Provider Act; the Perfusionist Practice Act; the Registered Surgical Assistant and Registered Surgical Technologist Title Protection Act; the Licensed Certified Professional Midwife Practice Act; or the Genetic Counselor Licensing Act.

(b) The Department shall create and administer a professional development course that addresses racial disparities in maternal health treatment and the impact of racial disparities on non-Hispanic Black and American Indian women. The course shall have a length of at least one hour. The course shall include, but shall not be limited to, education on:

(1) current statistics about pregnancy-related death for all racial and ethnic groups, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;

(2) potential risk factors associated with women that are a part of a marginalized racial or ethnic group that has increased maternal mortality rates that include, but are not limited to:

(A) structural and institutional racism;

(B) common stereotypes and misconceptions of health care professionals related to marginalized groups of women; and

(C) specific pregnancy-related medical conditions that commonly occur with specific racial and ethnic groups; and

(3) medical care plans and programs that have been demonstrated to successfully decrease maternal mortality rates and complications before and after pregnancy. These medical care plans and programs may include information about the positive impacts of doulas and midwives who are of the same racial or ethnic group as the patient.

(c) The Department shall require each health care professional to complete the professional development course.