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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
|||| 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
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