HB 2379 — An Act providing for trauma-informed maternity care education for certain health care professionals; and imposing duties on licensing boards and the Department of State.

PRINTER'S NO.    3182

                   THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                       HOUSE BILL
                       No. 2379
                                               Session of
                                                 2026

     INTRODUCED BY M. BROWN, MAYES, HANBIDGE, SANCHEZ, HOHENSTEIN,
        OTTEN, POWELL, FIEDLER, CARROLL, SHUSTERMAN, HILL-EVANS,
        RIVERA, CEPHAS, MAZZOCCO, FLICK AND McCLINTON, APRIL 13, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, APRIL 14, 2026


                                     AN ACT
 1   Providing for trauma-informed maternity care education for
 2      certain health care professionals; and imposing duties on
 3      licensing boards and the Department of State.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6   Section 1.   Short title.
 7      This act shall be known and may be cited as the Trauma-
 8   Informed Maternity Care Act.
 9   Section 2.   Definitions.
10      The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
11   have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
12   context clearly indicates otherwise:
13      "Certified registered nurse anesthetist."    As defined in
14   section 2 of the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), known as
15   The Professional Nursing Law.
16      "Certified registered nurse practitioner."    As defined in
17   section 2 of The Professional Nursing Law.
18      "Clinical nurse specialist."    As defined in section 2 of The
 1   Professional Nursing Law.
 2      "Department."   The Department of State of the Commonwealth.
 3      "Genetic counselor."     As defined in section 2 of the act of
 4   December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical
 5   Practice Act of 1985.
 6      "Licensed clinical social worker."    As defined in section 3
 7   of the act of July 9, 1987 (P.L.220, No.39), known as the Social
 8   Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional
 9   Counselors Act.
10      "Licensed practical nurse."     An individual licensed to
11   practice practical nursing under the act of March 2, 1956 (1955
12   P.L.1211, No.376), known as the Practical Nurse Law.
13      "Licensed professional counselor."    As defined in section 3
14   of the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and
15   Professional Counselors Act.
16      "Licensed social worker."    As defined in section 3 of the
17   Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional
18   Counselors Act.
19      "Licensing board."     A licensing board under the Bureau of
20   Professional and Occupational Affairs in the Department of State
21   with jurisdiction over maternity care providers.
22      "Maternity care provider."     Any of the following individuals
23   who provide care during pregnancy, childbirth or the postpartum
24   period as determined by the appropriate licensing board:
25          (1)   Genetic counselor.
26          (2)   Licensed professional counselor.
27          (3)   Midwife.
28          (4)   Nurse.
29          (5)   Physician.
30          (6)   Physician assistant.

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 1          (7)    Psychologist.
 2          (8)    Social worker.
 3      "Midwife."     An individual licensed to practice midwifery
 4   under the Medical Practice Act of 1985.
 5      "Nurse."     A certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified
 6   registered nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist,
 7   licensed practical nurse or registered nurse.
 8      "Physician."    As defined under the following:
 9          (1)    Section 2 of the Medical Practice Act of 1985.
10          (2)    Section 2 of the act of October 5, 1978 (P.L.1109,
11      No.261), known as the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act.
12      "Physician assistant."      As defined in section 2 of the
13   Medical Practice Act of 1985 or section 2 of the Osteopathic
14   Medical Practice Act.
15      "Postpartum period."     A period of up to one year after
16   childbirth.
17      "Psychologist."    An individual licensed to practice
18   psychology under the act of March 23, 1972 (P.L.136, No.52),
19   known as the Professional Psychologists Practice Act.
20      "Registered nurse."    An individual licensed to practice
21   professional nursing under The Professional Nursing Law.
22      "Social worker."     A licensed social worker or licensed
23   clinical social worker.
24      "Trauma-informed care."      A framework of clinical practice
25   that meets all of the following criteria:
26          (1)    Recognizes the prevalence and impact of trauma.
27          (2)    Resists retraumatization by avoiding practices or
28      policies that could perpetuate or worsen trauma and by
29      establishing a safe and supportive environment.
30          (3)    Emphasizes physical and emotional safety, trust,

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 1      transparency, peer support, collaboration and empowerment.
 2            (4)   Promotes safety, empowerment and healing in response
 3      to cultural, historical and gender-based inequities.
 4   Section 3.     Trauma-informed care education.
 5      (a)   Continuing education requirement.--Each licensing board
 6   shall require a maternity care provider who applies to renew a
 7   license to complete at least four hours of continuing education
 8   in trauma-informed care as part of the total continuing
 9   education required for license renewal.
10      (b)   Approval of curricula.--Within 180 days after the
11   effective date of this subsection, each licensing board, in
12   consultation with the department, shall approve the curricula
13   for the trauma-informed care education required under subsection
14   (a).
15   Section 4.     Effective date.
16      This act shall take effect as follows:
17            (1)   Section 3(a) shall take effect in one year.
18            (2)   This section shall take effect immediately.
19            (3)   The remainder of this act shall take effect in 60
20      days.




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