Board Meeting
July 13, 2018
The Alabama State Board of Midwifery met on Friday, July 13, 2018, to conduct business. Board members in attendance were Ms. Noel Leithart (Board Chair), Ms. Kaycee Cavender (member), Ms. Stacey Bufkin (member), and Ms. Marietta Nero (member). Board members not in attendance were Ms Dennis (member) and Ms Tullis (member). Keith Warren (executive director) was also absent. The meeting was held at 501 Washington Avenue in Montgomery. Also present were Ms. Bettie Carmack, Assistant Attorney General, attorneys Christopher Richard representing the Alabama Hospital Association (AHA) along with his intern Mazie Bryant, and Cheairs Porter representing the Medical Association. Members of the public included Lisa Clark and Lauren Collins.
The Rules Committee meeting had been advertised on the Secretary of State’s website, in accordance with the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Ms. Leithart called the meeting to order at 10:25 a.m. indicating that a quorum of the Board was present. Ms. Leithart welcomed both members and guests.
Ms. Leithart received general comments. The Board determined it would be best to continue the rules review process during the Board meeting. The Rules Committee meeting was adjourned and the regular Board meeting called to order at 10:45 a.m. The ASBM meeting had been advertised on the Secretary of State’s website, in accordance with the Alabama Open Meetings Act.
Ms. Leithart presented the June 8, 2018 meeting minutes for the Board’s approval. A copy of the minutes was provided to the members prior to the meeting for their review. Mistakes were noted and corrected. Ms. Bufkin made a motion to adopt the June meeting minutes as amended. The motion was seconded by Ms. Nero and unanimously approved by the Board.
Ms. Leithart presented the June 8, 2018 Rules Committee meeting minutes for the Board’s approval, and provided a copy of the minutes to the Board. She noted that Ms. Carmack’s name was misspelled and the correction was made. Ms. Bufkin made a motion to adopt the June Rules Committee meeting minutes as amended. Ms. Nero seconded the motion and the minutes were unanimously approved by the Board.
The Board returned to the rules review process. Mr. Porter arrived at 11:35 and Ms. Leithart received general comments from him. The Board then returned to the review of draft rules and public comments. Ms. Carmack presented several corrections to the draft rules which the Board acknowledged. The Board accepted suggestions from Mr Richard and Mr Porter. The Board moved to a long discussion about scope of practice. Mr. Porter and Mr. Richard indicated that MASA and AHA were not comfortable with the draft rules regarding the scope of practice for licensed midwives. The Board made only minor changes to the rules regarding scope of practice. Ms. Cavender made a motion to accept the rules as amended. Ms. Nero seconded the motion. The Board voted to accept the amended Rules and to send them for publication in the Alabama Administrative Monthly July 31 edition.
Ms. Cavender made a motion to cancel the Board meeting scheduled for July 20, 2018, which was seconded by Ms. Nero and adopted unanimously. Ms. Leithart announced that the next meeting of the Board was scheduled on Sept 8, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. in Birmingham. The Board agreed that this will be a Public Hearing to accept and respond to comments on the published Rules.
There was no further business of the Board. Ms. Bufkin made a motion to adjourn. Ms. Cavender seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. Ms. Leithart adjourned the meeting at 3:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Noel J. Leithart
Chair