HB 340 DE

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Became Law

Improving the quality of maternal health care and ensuring full access to it improves health outcomes and reduces preventable pregnancy-related deaths. The United States has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality among high-income countries and wide disparities by race that have been documented since rates separated by race were first published in 1935. Currently, Indigenous and Black women are dying at two to three times the rate of White women, Asian/Pacific Islander women, and Hispanic women. Investigating maternal deaths—specifically by obtaining information beyond vital statistics data—is imperative to understanding why people may die while pregnant, during labor and delivery, and in the postpartum period. (Source: Guttmacher Institute) Maternal mortality review is an essential component for improvement. Delaware added the review of maternal mortality to the duties of the existing Child Death Review Commission in 2008, however, the focus and processes of the Commission need improvement to match our evolving understanding of maternal morbidity and mortality as well as racial disparities. This Act changes the name of the Commission, from “Child Death Review Commission” to “Child and Maternal Death Review Commission” to reflect the intended dual focus of the Commission. The definition of “maternal death” is updated to include death during pregnancy or within a year from the end of pregnancy, and related to, or aggravated by, the pregnancy or birth, including death by suicide. The membership of the Commission is updated to include a midwife, a doula, and a member of a community group focused on women’s health, teen pregnancy, or public health. In making appointments to the Commission, the Governor is directed to consider the racial diversity of the membership. Most of the work of the Commission and death review panels is quite properly, closed to the public, to protect sensitive medical information and other protected personal information. However, to increase access to the work of the Commission, and to provide the Commission with the insight of diverse members of the public and with other public bodies addressing similar issues, the Act requires the Commission to hold at least one annual meeting jointly with the Delaware Perinatal Quality Collaborative to discuss findings, recommendations, and initiatives of that body. The Commission is also required to publicly post its draft report to the General Assembly and Governor and accept written public comment thereon, as well as hold a public meeting in each county to present its draft findings and recommendations and accept public comment.

• Melissa Minor-Brown Democratic · primary
• Bryan Townsend Democratic · primary
• S. Elizabeth Lockman Democratic · primary
• Darius J. Brown Democratic · primary
• Sherry Dorsey Walker · primary
• Debra Heffernan Democratic · primary
• Sarah McBride · primary

1. Mar 16, 2022 Introduced and Assigned to Health & Human Development Committee in House · lower
2. May 17, 2022 Amendment HA 1 to HB 340 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · lower
3. May 18, 2022 Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 8 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits · lower
4. Jun 9, 2022 Amendment HA 3 to HB 340 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · lower
5. Jun 9, 2022 Amendment HA 2 to HB 340 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · lower
6. Jun 9, 2022 Amendment HA 4 to HB 340 - Introduced and Placed With Bill · lower
7. Jun 9, 2022 Amendment HA 1 to HB 340 - Passed In House by Voice Vote · lower
8. Jun 9, 2022 Amendment HA 2 to HB 340 - Defeated By House. Votes: 14 YES 26 NO 1 ABSENT · lower
9. Jun 9, 2022 Amendment HA 3 to HB 340 - Stricken in House · lower
10. Jun 9, 2022 Amendment HA 4 to HB 340 - Defeated By House. Votes: 14 YES 26 NO 1 ABSENT · lower
11. Jun 9, 2022 Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES · lower
12. Jun 9, 2022 Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate · upper
13. Jun 22, 2022 Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 3 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits · upper
14. Jun 29, 2022 Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES · upper
15. Jul 25, 2022 Signed by Governor · executive