February 21, 2017

On behalf of the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana (MLB), I am submitting this notice in compliance with IC 4-22-2-19, which requires an agency to begin the rulemaking process not later than 60 days after the effective date of the statutes that authorize the rule, unless a notice is filed with the Publisher that includes the reasons for the noncompliance.

The statutory authority for rulemaking that allows the MLB to add 844 IAC 17 to establish requirements for certification, certification fees, continuing education requirements, peer review procedures, collaboration requirements, standards of competent practice, and emergency plans for certified direct entry midwives is IC 25-22.5-2-7 and IC 25-23.4-2-6.

The MLB was unable to begin the rulemaking process within 60 days of the authorizing statutes due to staff changes in the Director's position during that time and because the Midwifery Committee had not yet been constituted. The statute required the Midwifery Committee to make recommendations to the Board.

The rulemaking process was initiated by the convening of the Midwifery Committee in December 2013.

Darren R. Covington, J.D.

Director

Medical Licensing Board of Indiana

Indiana Midwifery Committee