Colorado § 12-255-111.5 - Requirements for certified midwife licensure - license by endorsement - questionnaire - fees - definition.

§ 12-255-111.5. Requirements for certified midwife licensure - license by endorsement - questionnaire - fees - definition.

(1) On and after July 1, 2024, the board shall issue a license to engage in the practice as a certified midwife to any applicant who:

(a) Submits an application containing information the board may prescribe;

(b) Submits proof satisfactory to the board, in the manner and upon the forms the board may require, to show that the applicant has obtained and maintains in good standing a midwife certification from the American Midwifery Certification Board or its successor entity;

(c) Pays the required fee; and

(d) Submits to a criminal history record check in the form and manner as described in subsection (2) of this section.

(2) (a) In addition to the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, each applicant must have the applicant's fingerprints taken by a local law enforcement agency or any third party approved by the Colorado bureau of investigation for the purpose of obtaining a fingerprint-based criminal history record check. If an approved third party takes the applicant's fingerprints, the fingerprints may be electronically captured using Colorado bureau of investigation-approved livescan equipment. Third-party vendors shall not keep the applicant's information for more than thirty days unless requested to do so by the applicant. The applicant shall submit payment by certified check or money order for the fingerprints and for the actual costs of the record check at the time the fingerprints are submitted to the Colorado bureau of investigation. Upon receipt of fingerprints and receipt of the payment for costs, the Colorado bureau of investigation shall conduct a state and national fingerprint-based criminal history record check utilizing records of the Colorado bureau of investigation and the federal bureau of investigation and shall forward the results of the criminal history record check to the director.

(b) When the results of a fingerprint-based criminal history record check of an applicant performed pursuant to this subsection (2) reveal a record of arrest without a disposition, the board shall require that applicant to submit to a name-based judicial record check, as defined in section 22-2-119.3 (6)(d).

(3) The board may issue a license by endorsement to engage in the practice as a certified midwife in this state to an applicant who satisfies the requirements of the occupational credential portability program.

(4) (a) (I) The board shall design a questionnaire to be sent to all licensees who apply for license renewal. Each applicant for license renewal shall complete the board-designed questionnaire. The purpose of the questionnaire is to determine whether a licensee has acted in violation of this part 1 or has been disciplined for any action that might be considered a violation of this part 1 or that might make the licensee unfit to practice as a certified midwife with reasonable care and safety. The board shall include on the questionnaire a question regarding whether the licensee has complied with section 12-30-111 and is in compliance with section 12-280-403 (2)(a).

(II) If an applicant fails to answer the questionnaire accurately, the failure constitutes grounds for discipline under section 12-255-120 (1)(v).

(III) The board may include the cost of developing and reviewing the questionnaire in the fee paid under subsection (1)(c) of this section.

(IV) The board may deny an application for license renewal that does not accompany an accurately completed questionnaire.

(b) On and after July 1, 2024, as a condition of renewal of a license, each licensee shall attest that the licensee is in compliance with section 12-280-403 (2)(a) and that the licensee is aware of the penalties for noncompliance with that section.

(5) A certified midwife who satisfies the requirements of section 12-255-112 may be granted prescriptive authority as a function in addition to those functions described in section 12-255-104 (7.5).

(6) As used in this section, "director" means the director of the division or the director's designee. The director's designee must be an employee of the division.

Source: L. 2023: Entire section added, (SB 23-167), ch. 261, p. 1511, § 5, effective May 25. L. 2025: (6) added, (SB 25-146), ch. 342, p. 1853, § 4, effective June 2.