THE BILL ITSELF
HB 1043
Doula Workforce Development
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to doula workforce development;
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creating s. 456.65, F.S.; providing legislative
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findings and intent; establishing the Doula Workforce
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Development Support Program within the Department of
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Commerce for specified purposes; providing
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definitions; providing requirements for grant funding
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and the use of such funds; providing requirements for
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the department to administer the program; requiring
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the department to submit a certain report to the
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Governor and the Legislature by a specified date
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annually; authorizing the department to require grant
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recipients to submit certain data; authorizing the
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department to adopt certain rules; providing an
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appropriation; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Section 456.65, Florida Statutes, is created to
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read:
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456.65 Doula Workforce Development Support Program.—
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(1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—
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(a) The Legislature finds that maternal health challenges
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are worsening in this state as it continues to see increased
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maternal mortality and morbidity rates. Minority families face
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the highest disparities, with Black women experiencing death
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rates 2 to 3 times higher than their White counterparts.
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(b) The Legislature finds that doulas have been shown to
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improve maternal and infant health outcomes, reduce preventable
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complications, increase prenatal care engagement, and strengthen
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postpartum recovery.
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(c) The Legislature further finds that existing doula
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training organizations, community-based doula programs,
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nonprofit entities, and private educational institutions serve a
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critical role in building a maternal health workforce but are
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under-resourced. Supporting these entities through the state's
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workforce development infrastructure is essential to meeting
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regional maternal health needs, especially in urban high-
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disparity counties, rural maternity-care deserts, and regions
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experiencing hospital closures or obstetric service reductions.
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(d) It is the intent of the Legislature to expand this
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state's doula workforce, especially in rural, minority, and
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other underserved communities, through strategic investment in
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the entities best positioned to train and deploy doulas.
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(2) ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM.—
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(a) The Doula Workforce Development Support Program is
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established within the Department of Commerce to fund,
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strengthen, and expand existing doula training programs, doula
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organizations, and community-based birthing services providers.
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(b) The program must prioritize support for entities
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serving high-need regions, including:
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1. Urban counties with high maternal morbidity
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disparities.
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2. Rural areas with limited or no obstetric providers or
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maternity wards.
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3. Communities affected by recent hospital closures or
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reductions in maternity services.
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(3) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
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(a) "Department" means the Department of Economic
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Opportunity.
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(b) "Doula" means a nonmedical birth support professional
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trained to give physical and emotional support in childbirth.
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(c) "Doula training entity" means a nonprofit organization,
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community-based program, training collective, academic
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institution, or private educational provider that conducts doula
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training, mentoring, continuing education, or workforce
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placement activities.
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(d) "Doula workforce support services" includes instructor
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compensation, curriculum development, program expansion,
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administrative support, business development training for
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doulas, mentoring, apprenticeship structures, evaluation and
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data activities, and related capacity-building functions.
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(e) "High-need region" means a county or region identified
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by the department as having elevated maternal morbidity rates,
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limited maternity care providers, or insufficient doula
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availability.
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(4) GRANTS, ELIGIBILITY, USE OF FUNDS.—The department may
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award competitive or formula-based grants to eligible doula
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training entities to support doula workforce development.
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(a) Grant funds may be used for:
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1. Training, mentoring, or apprenticeship program
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expansion.
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2. Instructor compensation and curriculum modernization.
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3. Recruitment and support of trainees from high-need
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regions.
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4. Program administration, evaluation, and outreach.
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5. Business development training for doulas, including
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assistance with incorporation, insurance, marketing, and
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entrepreneurship.
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6. Stipends or workforce support for newly trained doulas,
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administered through the eligible entity.
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7. Partnership development with hospitals, Medicaid
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managed care plans, clinics, community health workers, Healthy
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Start Coalitions, or other maternal health providers.
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(b) The department may not use funds to directly recruit,
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hire, or employ doulas as state employees or contractors
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providing clinical services.
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(5) PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.—The department shall establish
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application procedures, grant criteria, allowable costs,
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reporting requirements, and monitoring processes. In developing
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grant criteria, the department shall consider all of the
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following:
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(a) The demonstrated capacity of the entity to train or
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mentor doulas.
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(b) The geographic areas served and the documented need
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for doula workforce expansion.
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(c) The entity's experience serving culturally diverse and
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high-disparity populations.
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(d) Partnerships with local workforce development boards
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or educational institutions.
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(e) Plans for sustainability and long-term workforce
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placement.
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(6) REPORTS.—
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(a) By December 1 of each year, the department shall
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submit a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
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and the Speaker of the House of Representatives that includes
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all of the following information:
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1. Grant recipients and award amounts.
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2. The number of doulas trained, mentored, or supported by
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funded entities.
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3. The geographic distribution of program activities.
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4. Workforce outcomes, including business development
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successes and job placements.
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5. Recommendations for program improvements.
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(b) The department may require grant recipients to submit
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data necessary to compile the report.
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(7) RULES.—The department may adopt rules to implement
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this section.
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Section 2. (1) For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the
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nonrecurring sum of $7.5 million from the General Revenue Fund
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is appropriated to the Department of Economic Opportunity to
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implement s. 456.65, Florida Statutes, relating to the Doula
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Workforce Development Support Program.
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(2) From the funds appropriated in subsection (1):
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(a) Up to $500,000 may be used by the department for
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administrative expenses, program management, technical
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assistance to grantees, and data collection and evaluation
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activities necessary to carry out the program.
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(b) The remaining funds shall be placed in a grants and
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aids for doula workforce development support category and
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distributed as competitive or formula-based grants to eligible
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doula training entities in accordance with s. 456.65, Florida
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Statutes, with priority given to entities serving high-need
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regions as defined in that section.
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(3) Any appropriated funds that have not been expended or
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encumbered by June 30, 2027, shall revert to the General Revenue
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Fund.
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Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.