Alabama State Board of Midwifery Meeting Minutes
June 5, 2020
The Alabama State Board of Midwifery met on Friday, June 5, 2020, to conduct business. Board members present were: (1) Ms. Noel Leithart (member), (2) Ms. Tori Dennis (member), (3) Mr. Chris Megginson (member), (4) Ms. Stephanie Armstead (member), (5) Ms. Christine Litas, and (6) Ms. Marietta Nero (member). Ms. Stacey Bufkin (Chair) was absent. Also, in attendance were Dr. Sharon Porterfield Miller, administrative assistant to the Board and Ms. Bettie Carmack, attorney to the Board. The physical meeting was held at Vestavia City Hall, Vestavia Hills.
The members of the public in attendance were Beverly Maria Cranford and Lauren Collins.
The Board meeting had been advertised on the Secretary of State’s website, in accordance with the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Being a quorum of board members present and in the absence of the chair, Ms. Leithart served as facilitator, called the meeting to order at 10:04 a.m., and proceeded to preside over the meeting.
Ms. Leithart presented the March 6, 2020, and April 8, 2020 meeting minutes for the Board’s approval. Copies of the minutes were provided to the members via email prior to the meeting for their review. Mr. Megginson made a motion to adopt the March 6, 2020, minutes. Motion was seconded by Ms. Dennis and passed. Mr. Megginson made a motion to adopt the April 8, 2020, Emergency meeting minutes. The motion was seconded by Ms. Dennis and unanimously approved by the Board.
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No report from the Board Chair. Legal Report from Ms. Bettie Carmack regarding the Attorney General opinion on Newborn Screening done by midwives. Mr. Megginson motioned to resubmit for an opinion again. Ms. Leithart seconded, and the motion was passed by the Board. Mr. Megginson will draft the opinion. Report was given by Administrative Assistant, Dr Porterfield Miller which included a financial report.
Ms. Leithart reported on the Sunset Review Committee. She received a call from the Committee secretary about scheduling the meeting in front of the Committee. Date is set for Sept 17, 2020. All Board members are expected to be present in Montgomery for this hearing.
Mr. Megginson presented the Amended Rules for 582-X-2 and 582-X-3. The amended sections included typographical errors and clarifications. Also, the amended rules incorporated the Emergency Rules that were passed in April, making those rules permanent changes.
Ms. Leithart motioned to accept the amended rule for 582-X-2-.03. Mr. Megginson seconded the motion. Roll call vote. Ms. Litas aye, Ms. Armstead aye, Ms. Nero aye,
Ms. Dennis aye, Mr. Megginson aye, Ms. Leithart aye. Amendment carries.
Ms. Leithart motioned to accept the amended rule for 582-X-2-.09. Mr. Megginson seconded the motion. Roll call vote. Ms. Litas aye, Ms. Armstead aye, Ms. Nero aye,
Ms. Dennis aye, Mr. Megginson aye, Ms. Leithart aye. Amendment carries.
Ms. Dennis motioned to accept the amended rule for 582-X-3-.03(4). Ms. Leithart seconded the motion. Roll call vote. Ms. Litas aye, Ms. Armstead aye, Ms. Nero aye,
Ms. Dennis aye, Mr. Megginson aye, Ms. Leithart aye. Amendment carries.
Ms. Leithart motioned to accept the amended rule for 582-X-3-.03(7)(c). Mr. Megginson seconded the motion. Roll call vote. Ms. Litas aye, Ms. Armstead aye, Ms. Nero aye,
Ms. Dennis aye, Mr. Megginson aye, Ms. Leithart aye. Amendment carries.
Mr. Megginson motioned to accept the amended rule for 582-X-3-.04(a). Ms. Leithart seconded the motion. Roll call vote. Ms. Litas aye, Ms. Armstead aye, Ms. Nero aye,
Ms. Dennis aye, Mr. Megginson aye, Ms. Leithart aye. Amendment carries.
Mr. Megginson motioned to accept the amended rule for 582-X-3-.07(a). Ms. Dennis seconded the motion. Roll call vote. Ms. Litas aye, Ms. Armstead aye, Ms. Nero aye,
Ms. Dennis aye, Mr Megginson aye, Ms. Leithart aye. Amendment carries.
Ms. Leithart motioned to accept the amended rule for 582-X-3-.09(a)(12). Ms. Dennis seconded the motion. Roll call vote. Ms. Litas aye, Ms. Armstead aye, Ms. Nero aye,
Ms. Dennis aye, Mr. Megginson aye, Ms. Leithart aye. Amendment carries.
Ms. Leithart motioned to accept the amended rule for 582-X-3-.09(a)(13). Ms. Dennis seconded the motion. Roll call vote. Ms. Litas aye, Ms. Armstead aye, Ms. Nero aye,
Ms. Dennis aye, Mr. Megginson aye, Ms. Leithart aye. Amendment carries.
Mr. Megginson moved to go into Executive Session for 15 minutes to discuss the good name and character of the applicants for emergency expedited licensure was tabled for later consideration. Being certified by the Board attorney and approved by roll call vote of Board members. Roll call vote. Ms. Litas aye, Ms. Armstead aye, Ms. Nero aye, Ms. Dennis aye, Mr. Megginson aye, Ms. Leithart aye. Executive session began at 11:10am.
Mr. Megginson moved to Return to Public Meeting at 11:25am. Seconded by Ms. Leithart. Roll call vote. Ms. Litas aye, Ms. Armstead aye, Ms. Nero aye, Ms. Dennis aye, Mr. Megginson aye, Ms. Leithart aye.
Ms. Leithart motioned that the meeting be moved to Vestavia Hills Civic Center (1973 Merryvale Rd. Dogwood Room) due to City Hall requiring vacating due to protests. Seconded by Ms. Dennis. All in favor.
Meeting resumed at 12:20pm at Vestavia Hills Civic Center. Mr. Megginson moved to approve all renewal applications. Licenses 1-2, 4-9 were put for vote. Roll call vote. Ms. Litas aye, Ms. Armstead aye, Ms. Nero aye, Ms. Dennis aye, Mr. Megginson aye, Ms. Leithart aye. All renewals were approved. The applicant for emergency expedited licensure was tabled for later consideration.
Ms. Leithart opened the discussion for the appointments to the Commission provided by SR31 to study an education program for midwives at Wallace Community College in Selma. The Board has been assigned to appoint 2 people to this commission. Mr. Megginson motioned to appoint Ms. Leithart to the commission and to advertise for the second appointment with a deadline of Friday, June 12, 2020. This was to be posted on Alabama Midwives Alliance, Alabama Birth Coalition and the ASBM website. Ms. Leithart seconded the motion. Ms. Dennis expressed a desire to have the African-American community represented. All in favor. Motion passed.
Mr. Megginson made a motion to establish a working group to offer advice to the ASBM members of the education commission of 2 midwives, 2 licensed practitioners, and a consumer. The motion was tabled.
The Board solicited comments from the public. No comments.
There was no further business of the Board. Ms. Dennis made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Megginson seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. Ms. Leithart adjourned the meeting at 1:35 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sharon Porterfield Miller, Ed.D.
Administrative Assistant