Bill > S04583

This bill aims to enhance the health, safety, and human rights of incarcerated pregnant individuals, birthing parents, and their children by mandating the Commissioner of Corrections and Community Supervision to establish specific rules and regulations. It redefines terms like "birthing parent" to include those who are pregnant, postpartum, or caring for a child up to twenty-four months old, and clarifies "prenatal," "perinatal," and "postpartum" periods. A key provision is the prohibition of restraints on pregnant individuals, those within eight weeks of childbirth or pregnancy outcome, or during labor and delivery, except in extraordinary circumstances with strict documentation and limitations. The bill also expands access to comprehensive prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum medical care, including screenings, specialist consultations, mental health services, and evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders. It further outlines detailed requirements for the care of children born to incarcerated individuals, allowing them to remain with their birthing parent in a nursery for up to eighteen months, or longer if the parent is nearing release, and establishes strict protocols for any separation, requiring clear and convincing evidence of imminent risk to the child. Additionally, the bill mandates training for correctional personnel on these provisions and ensures that incarcerated individuals are informed of their rights regarding pregnancy counseling and abortion services. Finally, it updates the definition of "special populations" to include pregnant individuals and those in the postpartum recovery period or caring for a child in a correctional facility.