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Breastfeeding and the Law
The Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles recognizes that barriers to breastfeeding exist in our society.  This includes stigmatization of breastfeeding in public, low insurance coverage for lactation services, and workplace policies that make employee lactation difficult.  The Task Force is working with state and national partners to pass legislation that would guarantee mothers the right to breastfeed in the workplace as well as mandate HMO coverage for breastfeeding services.  To help shape and promote breastfeeding legislation, please join us at the next meeting of our Advocacy Committee.
Legislation / Policy
California State Legislation

SB 257 (Pavley)--Employee Notification
Existing law requires California public and private employers to provide a reasonable amount of break time and make efforts to provide a location other than a toilet stall to employees wishing to express breastmilk.  This bill would require state agencies and departments to notify employees nearing maternity leave of specified information regarding breastfeeding, including their right to lactation accommodation in the workplace.  Employees would also be notified about breastfeeding information on the website of the California Department of Public Health.  To read more about SB 257, including a letter of support to send to your legislator, please visit the website of the California WIC Association.

AB 513 (De Leon)--HMO Coverage
This bill would require specified health care service plans and health insurers to include coverage for lactation consultation and for the rental of breast pumps.  This would allow more California mothers to consult lactation experts if they have difficulty breastfeeding, and give greater access to breast pumps.  To read more about AB 513, including a letter of support to send to your legislator, please visit the website of the California WIC Association.

SB 797 (Pavley and Liu)--BPA-Free Baby Products
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a toxic additive that, unfortunately, is used to manufacture many types of baby bottles and sippy cups, as well as the can-liners of infant formula.  This bill would prohibit the manufacture, sale, or distribution of any bottle, cup, or liquid, food, or beverage in a can, jar, or plastic bottle that contains BPA, or that is lined with a material that contains BPA, at a level above 0.1 parts per billion.  To read more about SB 797, including a letter of support to send to your legislator, please visit the website of the California WIC Association.
 

National Legislation

Breastfeeding Promotion Act
The Breastfeeding Promotion Act, introduced in the House by Carolyn B. Maloney and in the Senate by Jeff Merkley, has five key provisions that would have a huge impact on breastfeeding families at home and in the workplace.  The provisions of the Act are:

  1. Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect breastfeeding women from being fired or discriminated against in the workplace.
  2. Provides tax incentives for businesses that establish private lactation areas in the workplace, or provide breastfeeding equipment or consultation services to their employees.
  3. Provides for a performance standard to ensure breast pumps are safe and effective.
  4. Allows breastfeeding equipment and consultation services to be tax deductible for families (amends Internal Revenue Code definition of "medical care").
  5. Protects the privacy of breastfeeding mothers by ensuring they have break time and a private place to pump (applies to employers with 50 or more employees, see text of legislation for details).

To read more about the Breastfeeding Promotion Act, including to ask your legislator for support, please visit the website of the US Breastfeeding Committee.