NO. 117.  AN ACT RELATING TO BREASTFEEDING.

(S.156)

It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:

Sec. 1.  FINDING

The general assembly finds that breastfeeding a child is an important, basic and natural act of nurture that should be encouraged in the interest of enhancing maternal, child and family health.

Sec. 2.  9 V.S.A. § 4502(j) is added to read:

(j)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a mother may breastfeed her child in any place of public accommodation in which the mother and child would otherwise have a legal right to be.

Sec. 3.  HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

The human rights commission shall develop and distribute materials that provide information regarding a woman’s legal right to breastfeed her child in a place of public accommodation.  Special attention shall be given to notifying public accommodation membership organizations.  By January 15, 2003, the commission shall issue to the House and Senate committees on judiciary a brief summary of the actions taken by the commission to implement this section.

Sec. 4.  EFFECTIVE DATE

Sec. 2 of this act shall take effect on March 15, 2003.  All other sections shall take effect upon passage.

Approved:  May 28, 2002