Legislature(2007 - 2008)BELTZ 211
04/03/2008 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB379 | |
| HB295 | |
| SB113 | |
| SB280 | |
| HB331 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 331 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 280 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| = | SB 113 | ||
| = | HB 295 | ||
| = | HB 379 | ||
SB 113-NURSING MOTHERS IN WORKPLACE
1:42:37 PM
CHAIR ELLIS announced SB 113 to be up for consideration.
PATRICK CUNNINGHAM, staff to Senator Ellis, sponsor of SB 113,
explained the proposed CS [referred to as CSSB 113(L&C) 25-
LS0435\E] made two changes. He said the intent of the CS was to
provide more flexibility to the employer in terms of
implementing the bill. One change was on page 1, line 10, that
deleted "secure" and inserted "private and sanitary". The other
change added a new section on page 1, line 13, that says nothing
in this section requires an employer to allow a child in the
workplace at times other than break times - in response to
Senator Stevens' concern that an employer would have to provide
day care and the child would be allowed to stay all day.
SENATOR STEVENS moved to adopt version E for discussion
purposes. There were no objections and it was so ordered.
SENATOR STEVENS said he hadn't heard from business organizations
like the Chamber of Commerce about the impact of providing a
clean and private room and he would like to hear some feedback
on that issue.
1:46:41 PM
DENNY DEWITT, National Federal of Independent Business, opposed
SB 113. The issue for them is not the efficacy of breastfeeding,
because they have been able to work these issues out. He said,
however, that some small employers who have a business in a mall
may not even have a restroom of their own; so providing a
private and sanitary room becomes a real problem. Putting this
in the labor code would allow some inspector to make a judgment
on what is an undue hardship for the employer. This person has
no fiduciary responsibility for their decision.
SENATOR STEVENS asked Mr. Cunningham what this measure would
mean for public schools.
MR. CUNNINGHAM replied he thought rooms for nursing teachers
could be provided, but that would be up to the state agency that
was charged with implementing the program to clarify. He hoped
in the long run that the requirements would be minimal and that
most facilities would be able to work something out for a
nursing mother and child recognizing how important it is to
promote the wellbeing of both.
CHAIR ELLIS asked if he found information about how other
countries handle this situation.
MR. CUNNINGHAM answered he looked at the issue from the state
perspective, not the international. All the Pacific states with
the exception of Alaska have this friendly legislation in place
already. Some studies of corporations have found accommodating
nursing mothers benefits the employer because since their
children are healthier, they don't have to miss work to care for
sick ones.
CHAIR ELLIS said this bill is a conversation starter and he
would like to send it on; he knew that more debate needed to
happen.
SENATOR DAVIS commented that lots of employers already allow
employees to have a place to nurse and express milk. It
shouldn't be much of a problem in schools, because they already
have at least a nurse's office that could be used for this
purpose. Even small businesses could use just a cubicle. She
thought most employees would probably go along with a good faith
effort to provide a room.
SENATOR DAVIS moved to report CSSB 113 (L&C) version E from
committee with individual recommendations. There were no
objections and it was so ordered.
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