S 1456

Florida Senate - 2026  SB 1456
By Senator Osgood
32-01247-26  20261456__
1A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to doula workforce development;
3creating s. 445.0075, F.S.; providing legislative
4findings and intent; defining terms; establishing the
5Doula Workforce Development Support Program within the
6Department of Commerce to provide grants and technical
7assistance to eligible doula training entities for a
8specified purpose; requiring the department to
9prioritize support to high-need regions; providing for
10the grant of awards under the program; specifying
11authorized uses of the grant funds; prohibiting the
12department from using the funds for specified
13purposes; requiring the department to adopt rules for
14the administration of the program; requiring the
15department to consider specified factors in developing
16grant criteria; requiring the department to submit
17annual reports to the Governor and the Legislature by
18a specified date; providing requirements for the
19report; authorizing the department to require grant
20recipients to submit certain data; authorizing the
21department to adopt rules; providing an appropriation;
22providing an effective date.
23
24Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
25
26Section 1. Section 445.0075, Florida Statutes, is created
27to read:
28445.0075 Doula Workforce Development Support Program.—
29(1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—
30(a) The Legislature finds that:
311. This state continues to experience persistent maternal
32morbidity and mortality disparities that disproportionately
33affect Black, Brown, rural, and low-income communities.
342. Doulashave been shown to improve maternal and infant
35health outcomes, reduce preventable complications, increase
36prenatal care engagement, and strengthen postpartum recovery.
373. Existing doula training organizations, community-based
38doula programs, nonprofit entities, and private educational
39institutions serve a critical role in building a maternal health
40workforce but are under-resourced.
414. Supporting these entities through the state’s workforce
42development infrastructure is essential to meeting regional
43maternal health needs, especially in urban high-disparity
44counties, rural maternity-care deserts, and regions experiencing
45hospital closures or obstetric service reductions.
46(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to strengthen the
47state’s doula workforce by supporting the organizations that
48train, mentor, and deploy doulas, and to expand economic and
49small-business opportunities for community-based birth workers
50through the Department of Commerce.
51(2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
52(a) “Department” means the Department of Commerce.
53(b) “Doula” means a nonmedical birth support professional
54trained to give physical and emotional support during
55childbirth.
56(c) “Doula training entity” means a nonprofit organization,
57community-based program, training collective, academic
58institution, or private educational provider that conducts doula
59training, mentoring, continuing education, or workforce
60placement activities.
61(d) “Doula workforce support services” means instructor
62compensation, curriculum development, program expansion,
63administrative support, business development training for
64doulas, mentoring, apprenticeship structures, evaluation and
65data activities, and related capacity-building functions.
66(e) “High-need region” means a county or region identified
67by the department as having elevated maternal morbidity rates,
68limited numbers of maternity care providers, or insufficient
69doula availability.
70(3) PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT.—
71(a) The Doula Workforce Development Support Program is
72established within the department to provide grants and
73technical assistance to eligible doula training entities for the
74purpose of expanding the state’s doula workforce.
75(b) The program shall prioritize support for entities
76serving high-need regions, including:
771. Urban counties with high maternal morbidity disparities.
782. Rural areas with limited or no obstetric providers or
79maternity wards.
803. Communities affected by recent hospital closures or
81reductions in maternity services.
82(4) GRANTS; ELIGIBILITY; USE OF FUNDS.—
83(a) The department may award competitive or formula-based
84grants to eligible doula training entities to support doula
85workforce development.
86(b) Grant funds may be used for any of the following:
871. Training, mentoring, or apprenticeship program
88expansion.
892. Instructor compensation and curriculum modernization.
903. Recruitment and support of trainees from high-need
91regions.
924. Program administration, evaluation, and outreach.
935. Business development training for doulas, including
94assistance with incorporation, insurance, marketing, and
95entrepreneurship.
966. Stipends or workforce support for newly trained doulas,
97administered through the eligible entity.
987. Partnership development with hospitals, Medicaid managed
99care plans, clinics, community health workers, Healthy Start
100coalitions, or other maternal health service providers.
101(c) The department may not use funds to directly recruit,
102hire, or employ doulas as state employees or contractors
103providing clinical services.
104(5) PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.—
105(a) The department shall establish by rule application
106procedures, grant criteria, allowable costs, reporting
107requirements, and monitoring processes.
108(b) In developing grant criteria, the department shall
109consider all of the following:
1101. The demonstrated capacity of the entity to train or
111mentor doulas.
1122. The geographic areas served and the documented need for
113doula workforce expansion.
1143. The entity’s experience serving culturally diverse and
115high-disparity populations.
1164. Partnerships with local workforce development boards or
117educational institutions.
1185. Plans for sustainability and long-term workforce
119placement.
120(6) REPORTING.—
121(a) By December 1 of each year, the department shall submit
122a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
123Speaker of the House of Representatives summarizing all of the
124following:
1251. Grant recipients and award amounts.
1262. The number of doulas trained, mentored, or supported by
127funded entities.
1283. The geographic distribution of program activities.
1294. Workforce outcomes, including business development
130successes and job placements.
1315. Recommendations for program improvements.
132(b) The department may require grant recipients to submit
133data necessary to compile the report.
134(7) RULES.—The department may adopt rules necessary to
135implement this section.
136Section 2. (1) For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the
137nonrecurring sum of $7.5 million from the General Revenue Fund
138is appropriated to the Department of Commerce to implement s.
139445.0075, Florida Statutes, relating to the Doula Workforce
140Development Support Program.
141(2) From the funds appropriated in subsection (1):
142(a) Up to $500,000 may be used by the department for
143administrative expenses, program management, technical
144assistance to grantees, and data collection and evaluation
145activities necessary to carry out the program.
146(b) The remaining funds shall be placed in a Grants and
147Aids – Doula Workforce Development Support Program category and
148distributed as competitive or formula-based grants to eligible
149doula training entities in accordance with s. 445.0075, Florida
150Statutes, with priority given to entities serving high-need
151regions as defined in that section.
152(3) Funds appropriated in this section which are not
153encumbered by June 30, 2027, shall revert to the General Revenue
154Fund.
155Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.