Legislation

Currently Michigan legislation only supports breastfeeding moms by "excluding" them from the public nudity law. This means that if you are in a public place nursing your baby/toddler you will not be violating the law if the breast or nipple is exposed during feeding.

A bill in the Michigan Senate was introduced on June 30, 2011 to make breastfeeding a civil right.  You can view Senate Bill 0554 here.  The bill would prohibit denying a breastfeeding woman “the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of a place of public accommodation.”  

Section 4207 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (also known as Health Care Reform) recently signed into law by President Obama, included some provisions for breastfeeding mothers.  The federal law allows “reasonable” breaks for working mothers to express breast milk during the day, until the child reaches one year old. The law also requires employers to provide some space “other than a bathroom” for mothers to express milk.  The U.S. Department of Labor must now develop a timeline, terms, implementation and enforcement of this new law.

Representative Carol Maloney has been working on a legislation act to protect breastfeeding moms at work as well as more rights for nursing mothers. This Act that she is working on is called Breastfeed Promotion Act.  It was introduced in 2009 and is expected to be reintroduced into the 112th Congress in summer of 2011.  You can get on her e-mail list and receive updates on legislation as well as show your support of Breastfeeding promotion in Michigan. E-mail breastfeedinginfo.maloney@mail.house.gov . 

For more Information:

USbreastfeeding.org

Michigan Legislature

Michigan Breastfeeding Network - facebook

BanTheBags.org