Safe Pregnancy, Delivery, and Postpartum Care for Youth at DYRS Amendment Act of 2025
Summary
This bill amends the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services Establishment Act of 2004 to require DYRS to provide prenatal, delivery-related, and postpartum care to pregnant youth in its custody. It creates a new section directing the agency to make pregnancy testing available at admission for youth who may become pregnant, and to inform confirmed pregnant youth of the standards and policies that apply to them.
The measure also requires DYRS to ensure that pregnant youth receive confidential, timely, culturally responsive, and comprehensive care from licensed maternal health providers in the District. Covered services include care for pregnancy and postpartum conditions, postpartum follow-up within three weeks and a comprehensive visit by 12 weeks after birth, referrals for specialized care when needed, counseling on family planning, prenatal education, birth control, test results, and perinatal mental health, as well as medically necessary or provider-recommended supplies and diets at no cost, including breast-pumping equipment and postpartum nutrition needs.
Impact
The bill expands statutory duties for DYRS by adding an explicit legal requirement to identify pregnancy, communicate policies, and provide or arrange maternal healthcare for detained youth. It also ties specialized referrals to existing District law governing restraints, and it obligates the agency to furnish certain supplies and accommodations without charge, affecting both agency operations and the healthcare rights of youth in custody.
Sentiment
The available voting record shows unanimous support, with 12-0 votes at both first and final reading in the Council. No committee transcript is available, but the recorded votes suggest broad agreement that pregnant youth in DYRS custody should receive structured prenatal and postpartum care and related supports.
Contention
No formal opposition or recorded controversy appears in the provided materials. The main policy choices embedded in the bill are the scope of required healthcare, the timing of postpartum follow-up, and the requirement that DYRS provide supplies and diet accommodations at no cost, but the unanimous votes indicate these provisions were not contentious in the Council proceedings reflected here.