On May 5, 2000 International Midwives Day, the entire Senate passed the bill licensing CPMs in Vermont, the final legislative step. The licensing act went to the Governor as part of an omnibus bill, and he allowed the bill to go into effect without his signature. He was opposed to a section of the bill unrelated to midwives, but did not veto it. The bill will go into effect July 1, 2000. Creation of the rules will take place over the summer with the Director of Professional Regulation, two midwife appointees and a physician with home birth experience. This is a public process that allows input, but not final say by all concerned parties (Medical Society, nursing etc.).
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