Washington — RCW 72.09.588

(1)The department must make reasonable accommodations for the provision of available midwifery or doula services to incarcerated individuals who are pregnant or who have given birth in the last six weeks. Persons providing midwifery or doula services must be granted appropriate facility access, must be allowed to attend and provide assistance during labor and childbirth where feasible, and must have access to the incarcerated individual's relevant health care information, as defined in RCW 70.02.010 , if the incarcerated individual authorizes disclosure.

(2)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(a)"Doula services" are services provided by a trained doula and designed to provide physical, emotional, or informational support to a pregnant individual before, during, and after delivery of a child. Doula services may include, but are not limited to: Support and assistance during labor and childbirth; prenatal and postpartum education; breastfeeding assistance; parenting education; and support in the event that an individual has been or will become separated from their child.

(b)"Midwifery services" means medical aid rendered by a midwife to an individual during prenatal, intrapartum, or postpartum stages or to an individual's newborn up to two weeks of age.

(c)"Midwife" means a midwife licensed under chapter 18.50 RCW or an *advanced registered nurse practitioner licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW.

(3)Nothing in this section prevents the department from adopting policy guidelines for the delivery of midwifery or doula services to incarcerated individuals, or from contracting with a nonprofit organization or partnering with volunteers to deliver these services to incarcerated individuals. Services provided under this section may not supplant health care services routinely provided to the incarcerated individual.

[ 2025 c 129 s 1 ; 2018 c 41 s 1 .]

Notes:

*Reviser's note: The term "advanced registered nurse practitioner" was changed to "advanced practice registered nurse" by 2024 c 239 s 1, effective June 30, 2027.

RCW 72.09.588

Incarcerated individuals who are pregnant — Midwifery or doula services — Reasonable accommodations. (Effective June 30, 2027.)

(1)The department must make reasonable accommodations for the provision of available midwifery or doula services to incarcerated individuals who are pregnant or who have given birth in the last six weeks. Persons providing midwifery or doula services must be granted appropriate facility access, must be allowed to attend and provide assistance during labor and childbirth where feasible, and must have access to the incarcerated individual's relevant health care information, as defined in RCW 70.02.010 , if the incarcerated individual authorizes disclosure.

(2)For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(a)"Doula services" are services provided by a trained doula and designed to provide physical, emotional, or informational support to a pregnant individual before, during, and after delivery of a child. Doula services may include, but are not limited to: Support and assistance during labor and childbirth; prenatal and postpartum education; breastfeeding assistance; parenting education; and support in the event that an individual has been or will become separated from their child.

(b)"Midwifery services" means medical aid rendered by a midwife to an individual during prenatal, intrapartum, or postpartum stages or to an individual's newborn up to two weeks of age.

(c)"Midwife" means a midwife licensed under chapter 18.50 RCW or an advanced practice registered nurse licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW.

(3)Nothing in this section prevents the department from adopting policy guidelines for the delivery of midwifery or doula services to incarcerated individuals, or from contracting with a nonprofit organization or partnering with volunteers to deliver these services to incarcerated individuals. Services provided under this section may not supplant health care services routinely provided to the incarcerated individual.

[ 2025 c 129 s 1 ; 2025 c 58 s 5166 ; 2018 c 41 s 1 .]

Notes:

Reviser's note: This section was amended by 2025 c 58 s 5166 and by 2025 c 129 s 1, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025 (2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025 (1).

Effective date — 2025 c 58 ss 5058-5170: See note following RCW 7.68.030 .

Explanatory note — 2025 c 58: See note following RCW 1.16.050 .