2003 Legislation
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HOUSE BILL NO. 235 – Right to breastfeed

HOUSE BILL NO. 235

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Daily Data Tracking History



H0235....................................................by HEALTH AND WELFARE
RIGHT TO BREASTFEED - Adds to existing law to describe the benefits of
breastfeeding; and to delineate a woman's right to breastfeed.
                                                                        
02/11    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/12    Rpt prt - to Health/Wel

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-seventh Legislature                 First Regular Session - 2003
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                                     HOUSE BILL NO. 235
                                                                        
                              BY HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO THE RIGHT TO BREASTFEED;  PROVIDING  A  STATEMENT  OF  LEGISLATIVE
  3        FINDINGS;  AND  AMENDING CHAPTER 10, TITLE 32, IDAHO CODE, BY THE ADDITION
  4        OF A NEW SECTION 32-1009, IDAHO CODE, TO  DELINEATE  A  WOMAN'S  RIGHT  TO
  5        BREASTFEED.
                                                                        
  6    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
  7        SECTION  1.  LEGISLATIVE  FINDINGS.  It  is the finding of the Legislature
  8    that breastfeeding provides significant health benefits to both the mother and
  9    child. Breastfeeding provides maternal protection from  osteoporosis,  urinary
 10    tract  infections,  breast  cancer and other cancers. A recent study indicates
 11    that if all women breastfed all their children for two years, that breast can-
 12    cer in the United States could decline by twenty-five percent (25%).  Further,
 13    studies now show that babies who are not breastfed have higher rates of death,
 14    meningitis,  childhood  leukemia and other cancers, diabetes, respiratory ill-
 15    nesses, bacterial and viral  infections,  diarrheal  diseases,  otitis  media,
 16    allergies,  obesity and developmental delays. Breastfeeding may raise a baby's
 17    IQ. The social constraints of modern  society  weigh  against  the  choice  of
 18    breastfeeding  and  lead  new mothers with demanding time schedules to opt for
 19    formula feeding to avoid embarrassment, social ostracism or criminal  prosecu-
 20    tion.  Any  genuine  promotion of family values should encourage public accep-
 21    tance of this most basic act of nurture between a mother and her child, and no
 22    mother should  be  made  to  feel  incriminated  or  socially  ostracized  for
 23    breastfeeding her child.
                                                                        
 24        SECTION  2.  That  Chapter  10,  Title 32, Idaho Code, be, and the same is
 25    hereby amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and  des-
 26    ignated as Section 32-1009, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:
                                                                        
 27        32-1009.  RIGHT  TO  BREASTFEED.   Breastfeeding is an important and basic
 28    act of nurture which must be encouraged in the interests of maternal and child
 29    health. A woman has a right to breastfeed in any location, public or  private,
 30    where  she  has  a  right to be, irrespective of whether the nipple is exposed
 31    during or incidental to breastfeeding.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                             RS 12868
The purpose of this legislation is to state that breastfeeding
has significant health benefits for both mother and child, and
that a woman should not be prohibited from breastfeeding in any
public or private location where she has the right to be. 
                          FISCAL IMPACT
There is no cost to the general fund.


Contact
Name: Representative Bonnie Douglas 
Phone: 332-1130




STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                         H 235