URGENT CALL-TO-ACTION: Oppose H.B. 496 unless amended to Uphold Rights/Freedoms of Midwives and Birthing Families

Oppose H.B. 496 unless amended to Uphold Rights/Freedoms of Midwives and Birthing Families.

As shared by Freedom Keepers United, “This bill is a licensing bill impacting non-nurse (traditional and CPM) midwives who historically have been an unregulated profession in Ohio attending families who give birth at home. Troublesome in this bill is the over-reach of a government entity into the bedrooms of home birthing families by eliminating options and choices for their birth currently available to them. Loss of personal childbearing freedoms will occur by

(1) creation of a criminal status for unlicensed midwives with loss of freedoms for childbearing families and practicing midwives by disallowing the practice of midwifery unless the individual holds a current valid license to practice. The unlicensed practice of midwifery would result in the midwife being guilty of a fifth degree felony.

(2) licensing of a non-nurse care provider by the Nursing Board who will create rules and regulations defining and restricting the licensed CPM provider and determining who is eligible to have a home birth or not.

Passage of this bill, as written, eliminates a large percentage of current practicing midwives in Ohio thus impacting personal freedoms of childbearing families and putting birthing families at risk of not being able to obtain skilled midwives to serve them at home.

Amendments to this bill need to occur in order to retain basic birth freedoms for childbearing parents. In addition to addressing points (1) and (2) further protection of families could occur with an amendment to the bill with language clearly upholding the freedom of choice of birth place and provider for every childbearing woman.

Please read the following link for more details but be sure to take action as noted below and in the link provided.

CALL TO ACTION:

Please make your voices heard! We do not want birthing choices taken away from Ohioans. The protection of children and family rights is of utmost importance. The preservation of choice and anti-discrimination are key here.

Opposition testimony against H.B. 496 is taking place on Thursday, December 1st, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. at the The Ohio State House in the Families, Aging, and Human Services Committee room.

1) In-person Opponent testimony must be submitted with your witness form by 9:00 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, November 29th. The same form can also be utilized for written testimony.

Be sure to submit your testimony and witness form to State Representative Susan Manchester, the Chair of the Families, Aging, and Human Services Committee at Rep84@OhioHouse.gov, and the bill sponsors, Kyle Koehler at Rep79@OhioHouse.gov.

2) Contact the committee members found here to express your concerns regarding H.B. 496:

3) Contact your legislators to ensure they are also aware about your concerns regarding H.B. 496. Find your Ohio State Representatives here.

To read the bill text and see the current status, please follow this link.