HB 1484

AN ACT TO BE KNOWN AS THE "FATHERHOOD ENGAGEMENT IN MATERNAL HEALTH ACT"; TO MAKE LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS THAT FATHERHOOD ENGAGEMENT CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN IMPROVING MATERNAL HEALTH CARE, ADDRESSING MATERNAL MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY AND BETTERING THE DEVELOPMENT AND LONG-TERM GROWTH OF A CHILD; TO DIRECT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE THE UNDERSTANDING OF FATHERHOOD ENGAGEMENT IN IMPROVING OVERALL HEALTH OUTCOMES DURING PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH AND POSTPARTUM FOR BOTH THE MOTHER AND BABY; TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT TO POST MATERIALS ON THE DEPARTMENT'S PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITE THAT ADDRESS HOW A PROVIDER OF MATERNITY CARE, INCLUDING A HOSPITAL, HEALTH CARE FACILITY, BIRTH CENTER, OR HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER CAN PROVIDE TRAINING AND EDUCATION TO A HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF FATHERHOOD ENGAGEMENT IN IMPROVING OVERALL HEALTH OUTCOMES DURING PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH AND POSTPARTUM FOR BOTH THE MOTHER AND BABY; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE THE INCLUSION OF PATERNAL DEPRESSION SCREENING BY PROVIDERS OF MATERNITY CARE AS PART OF CARE PROVIDED DURING PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH AND POSTPARTUM FOR BOTH THE MOTHER AND BABY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.