Includes whereas clauses.

Part I.

Enacts new GS 130A-33.62, providing as follows. Requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to develop, in collaboration with (1) community-based organizations led by black women that serve primarily black birthing people and (2) a historically black college or university or other institution that primarily serves minority populations to create or identify an evidence-based implicit bias training program (training program) for maternal care professionals involved in perinatal care (the provision of care during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum and neonatal periods). Sets out 12 minimum components of the training program, including identification of previous or current unconscious biases and misinformation; identification of personal, interpersonal, institutional, structural, and cultural barriers to inclusion; corrective measures to decrease implicit bias at the interpersonal and institutional levels; and information about how to communicate more effectively across identities. Requires all maternal care professionals to complete the training program, specifying deadlines for completion depending on whether the individual is licensed before or after January 1, 2025. Requires proof of completion for license/registration/accreditation/certification renewal. Defines a maternal care provider as including both: (1) a health care professional involved in perinatal care and (2) a mental health professional who provides mental health or substance use disorder services to women during pregnancy, the postpartum period, or both. Encourages DHHS to seek opportunities to make the training program available to all health care professions and to promote its use among four specified types of providers and programs. Requires DHHS to collect specified information related to maternal mortality to inform ongoing improvements to the training program.

Enacts GS 130A-33.63 specifying that a patient getting care at a perinatal care facility (a hospital, clinic, or birthing center providing perinatal care in the state) has six listed rights, including: to be informed of continuing health care requirements following discharge; to actively participate in decisions regarding the patient's medical care and the right to refuse treatment; and to receive care and treatment free from discrimination on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, color, religion, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic  information, marital status, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, citizenship, nationality, immigration status, primary language, or language proficiency. Requires perinatal care facilities to provide patients upon admission with a written copy of the rights.

Appropriates $1.5 million in recurring funds for 2024-25 from the General Fund to the DHHS, Division on Public Health, to be allocated in the specified amounts for: (1) costs in developing and administering the implicit bias training and (2) an allocation to the Women, Infant, and Community Wellness Section to support the North Carolina Maternal Mental Health MATTERS Program.

Part II.

Requires DHHS to establish and administer a Perinatal Education Grant Program to award grants to entities to establish or expand perinatal education program in rural, underserved, or low-wealth areas of the state. Defines a perinatal education program as one that operates for the primary purpose of educating pregnant women and their families about healthy pregnancy, preparation for labor and birth, breastfeeding, newborn care, or any combination of these.

Requires, beginning July 1, 2024, that DHHS: (1) conduct outreach to encourage eligible applicants to apply for grants and (2) provide application assistance to eligible applicants on best practices for applying for the program’s grants. Sets out criteria for classes of entities that are to be given special consideration. Sets the range for a single grant’s amount from $10,000 to $50,000. Terminates the Grant Program on June 30, 2025.

Requires DHHS to report by October 1, 2026, to the specified NCGA committee and division on: (1) funds expended for the program for the 2024-25 fiscal year; (2) assessment of the effectiveness of programs funded by these grants in improving maternal health outcomes for black women; and (3) recommendations for future grant programs to be administered by DHHS and for future funding opportunities for community-based organizations to improve maternal health outcomes for black women through programs and resources  aligned with evidence-based practices for improving maternal health outcomes for black women.

Appropriates $1.5 million for 2024-25 from the General Fund to the DHHS, Division of Public Health, to fund the Grant Program. Allows DHHS to use up to 10% of the funds for administrative purposes.

Part III.

Effective July 1, 2024, appropriates $2 million for 2024-25 in recurring funding from the General Fund to DHHS, Division of Public Health, to develop a training program for community health works that provides comprehensive education on the warning signs of complications after birth. Requires that the training be provided for free to community health workers serving rural, underserved, or low-wealth areas of the state. Sets out the definition of a community health worker.