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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
breastfeeding mothers; teachers; accommodation
Purpose
Precludes a school district or charter school from prohibiting a teacher who is a nursing mother from breastfeeding at the school and outlines reasonable accommodations.
Background
The federal Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act requires employers to provide: 1) reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for one year after a child’s birth each time the employee needs to express the milk; and 2) a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public and may be used by an employee to express breast milk. An employer is authorized to not compensate an employee receiving reasonable break time for any work time spent breastfeeding (29 U.S.C. § 218d).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Prohibits a school district or charter school from prohibiting a breastfeeding mother who is a teacher at the school from bringing the mother's infant to the school to breastfeed.
2. Specifies that a school district or charter school must provide reasonable accommodations for breastfeeding, including reasonable breaks and a private place to allow the nursing mother to breastfeed, if the accommodations do not pose an undue hardship.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 27, 2024
MH/LB/slp