Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Yesterday the Oregon Senate passed a revised version of House Bill 2372. The House is expected to approve the minor amendments and Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski already indicated he will sign the bill into law. The new law amends Oregon Revised Statutes section 653.077 and will likely go into effect in January 2008.

The legislation requires most employers to provide two 30-minute unpaid rest periods for pumping during an 8-hour work day. Employers are also required to provide a private location for the employee to express milk. The law does not cover employers with fewer than 25 employees, and it exempts employers if the requirements pose an “undue hardship” in light of the size, financial resources, nature or structure of the employer’s business.

This new law will be particularly powerful because it comes with a stiff penalty for violations. The Oregon Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries may assess a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for willful violations of the law.

Last week another workplace pumping measure became law in Montana when Governor Brian Schweitzer signed Senate Bill 89. Unlike the Oregon law, Montana’s workplace protections only apply to employees of public employers such as state and county governments, municipalities, and school districts and the university system. Public employers are required to provide a room or other location for pumping and allow reasonable unpaid break time unless doing so would unduly disrupt the public employer’s operations.

The broader law passed in New Mexico in March requires “an employer, including the state and its political subdivisions” to establish a clean and private place to pump and flexible break times.

It’s great to see such protections being enacted. Working and pumping mothers need and deserve all of the support they can get. That reminds me, I’m reading a newly-released book that’s a must-have for all working and pumping moms: The Milk Memos: How Real Moms Learned to Mix Business with Babies-and How You Can, Too. I’ll post a book review when I’ve had a chance to finish reading!

Sources: The Oregonian, The Reluctant Lactivist

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

The New Mexico legislation to support working mothers received unanimous approval by the House Labor and Human Resources committee hearing last Tuesday and now faces review by the Consumer and Public Affairs Committee.

South Carolina

After controversial child custody disputes in the state, the South Carolina Breastfeeding Action Committee is pushing to introduce legislation that would allow a breastfeeding mother custody of her child unless the child is in danger. Three states currently allow breastfeeding to be taken into consideration in custody decisions: Maine, Michigan and Utah.

Wisconsin

The “Right to Breastfeed Act” has been introduced in the Wisconsin state legislature by Senator Fred Risser and Representative Sheldon Wasserman. It would allow a mother to breastfeed in any public or private location where the mother is otherwise authorized to be. Much like local legislation recently passed in Wisconsin on the city and county level, the bill would prohibit interfering with a breastfeeding woman and provide a fine of up to $200. Advocates are hopeful that Senate Bill 30 will move swiftly and be received positively now that Risser is president of the state Senate.

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

“My name is Lissa and I am a member of the New Mexico Breast Feeding Task force, I have an Masters in Public Health, I am working on my PhD in Health Communication, and I am, of course, a proud breastfeeding mamma of a beautiful (and healthy) 2 year old.

Currently we have two bills that have been introduced into the NM 2007 legislative session. HB 613: Breastpump Use in the Workplace and SB 170: Expand Jury Service Exemptions. You can find them both at the NM Legislative Website.

This Tuesday [February 6, 2007] HB 613 is scheduled to be heard by the House Labor and Human Resources committee. We are looking for employee-breastfeeders or employers who support breastfeeding to attend the committee meeting which starts at 1:30 p.m. in room 305 of the Capital building in Santa Fe.

Please email me directly if think you can be at the hearing, you’d
like to be added to our NMLACTLEG listserv, or you have questions
about New Mexico Lactation Legislation group. My email address is
lissaknudsen@gmail.com.”

Good luck Lissa and all New Mexico lactivists! Keep up the good work!

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3