Whether a yearlong debate over certifying midwives in Utah will get the attention of the full Legislature could be decided Friday.

The committee assigned to review HB25 couldn't decide Monday, postponing the vote despite spending a second day hearing public testimony. At least three members of the House Health and Human Services Committee have lingering questions. Prior to being rescheduled for Friday, a

motion to pass the bill failed on a 4-4 tie.

Committee Chairman Rep. Brad Last, R-St. George, who sets the agenda, said that Friday would probably be the last time the committee would hear it.

"It's time to just put it to a motion, and vote it up or down," he said.

Rep. Rebecca Lockhart, R-Provo, said that she doubted that the bill would ever reach a point where everyone agreed with it. While she supported it, she preferred to just see the bill's fate decided as soon as possible.

"I'm not sure that we're ever going to come to a point where we all agree," she said.

Rep. Steve Mascaro, R-West Jordan, who asked for the bill to be postponed until Friday, said that he just wanted to ensure that the positive and negative impacts of the change were tracked by the state.

"I'm very supportive of this bill," he said. "It will improve some situations, but I have some questions."

HB25 would allow lay midwives, who are legal in Utah but not regulated, to be licensed by the state. With the license, which would require three years of schooling, the midwives would be able to perform duties they are currently not permitted to do, such as prenatal care.

Although only 1 percent of Utah births take place in the home, lawmakers have been debating the question more than a year. Midwives say not certifying the service in effect keeps it underground.

As it is now, Utah's Medical Practice Act leaves direct-entry midwives unable to legally administer certain drugs to control hemorrhaging or even apply topical ointment to a newborn's eyes.

That puts practicing direct-entry midwives in violation of the law if they are obtaining the medication and using it to ensure safe deliveries and healthy babies.

Legislation allowing for midwives to become licensed would "improve the working relationship with hospitals," she said. "That's better for everyone."

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E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com