New Washington State Civil Rights Law
April 23, 2009 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under law, nursing in public
Excellent news on the breastfeeding legislation front as today Governor Chris Gregoire signed into law a breastfeeding civil rights bill. House Bill 1596 (PDF) amends the state anti-discrimination statutes RCW 49.60.030 and 2007 c 187 s 3 to add the following civil right:
(g) the right of a mother to breastfeed her child in any place of public resort, accommodation, assemblage, or amusement.
The law goes into effect in late July, 90 days after today. It adds on to the existing Washington laws that exempt breastfeeding and expressing breast milk from indecent exposure, and allow employers to call themselves “infant-friendly” if they …read more
