VABF Taskforce

Virginia Breastfeeding Taskforce

SUMMARY OF ENACTED BREASTFEEDING LEGISLATION in VIRGINIA

Va. Code 18.2-387 (1994) exempts mothers engaged in breastfeeding from indecent exposure laws.

Va. Code 2.2-1147.1 (2002) guarantees a woman the right to breast-feed her child on any property owned, leased or controlled by the state. The bill also stipulates that childbirth and related medical conditions specified in the Virginia Human Rights Act include activities of lactation, including breast-feeding and expression of milk by a mother for her child. (H.B. 1264)

HJ 145 (2002) Encourages employers to recognize the benefits of breastfeeding and to provide unpaid break time and appropriate space for employees to breast-feed or express milk.

Va. Chapter No. 195 (2005) Provides that a mother who is breast-feeding a child may be exempted from jury duty upon her request. The mother need not be "necessarily and personally responsible for a child or children 16 years of age or younger requiring continuous care . . . during normal court hours" as the existing statute provides.

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FirstRight

FirstRight exists to ensure freedom from discrimination for breastfeeding mothers and their children. FirstRight works collaboratively with other organizations to protect, promote and support breastfeeding as the cultural norm. FirstRight is a new national grassroots breastfeeding advocacy group committed to ensuring freedom from discrimination for breastfeeding children and their mothers. If you feel you have been discriminated against as a breastfeeding mother, go here to report it.

Here is an easy way to tell your elected officials: , 'Please Co-Sponsor the Breastfeeding Promotion Act!'

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