Legislature(1997 - 1998)
04/01/1998 01:40 PM Senate JUD
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SB 297 - BREAST-FEEDING IN PUBLIC PLACE
SENATOR ELLIS thanked CHAIRMAN TAYLOR for his support and offered
amendment #1 which reduces the penalty for ejecting a woman for
breast-feeding in public from a class B misdemeanor to a violation,
so as not to incur the costs that accompany a misdemeanor. SENATOR
ELLIS moved the amendment and without objection, it was adopted.
SENATOR ELLIS noted the bill has received an outpouring of support.
SENATOR ELLIS explained the bill ensures a woman's right to breast-
feed in a public place under state law and city ordinances, and
makes interfering with this right a violation. SENATOR ELLIS
indicated breast-feeding is beneficial to both the mother and the
child for numerous reasons.
SENATOR PARNELL asked about the necessity of the findings section
of SB 297; SENATOR ELLIS remarked they had only been included for
the edification for the public and CHAIRMAN TAYLOR commented they
could possibly be removed later.
MS. KAREN PEARSON, representing the Division of Public Health,
indicated that breast-feeding is good for the mother, the child and
the economy of the family and SB 297 sends a positive message to
society that breast-feeding is a normal, natural function. Her
division appreciates the help in spreading this message.
Number 120
MS. NANCY RODY, Director of the Women, Infants and Children program
(WIC), explained there is a barrier to breast-feeding based in the
fear of what other people might think. She has heard many reports
of women being harassed while breast-feeding in public. MS. Rody
said young women and poor women are more sensitive to public
pressure about breast-feeding and this bill would send a good
message about the benefits of breast-feeding.
MS. ANN KNOBBE testified via teleconference from Mat-Su. As a nurse
and lactation consultant for the WIC program in Mat-Su, she asked
the committee to pass this bill and send a good message to the
public.
MS. ROBERTA GILLOTT testified via teleconference from Dillingham
and expressed her support, as a new mother who has experienced
discrimination, for SB 297.
Number 187
MS. FAITH CHALIFOUR-KROUS, an accredited breast-feeding counselor
from La Leche League International, testified via teleconference
from Anchorage about the importance of encouraging young mothers to
breast-feed. She said breast-feeding is a natural healthy way to
bond with and feed your baby.
MS. EDNA ABBOT thanked the committee for the legislation, saying it
will increase the percentage of mothers who breast-feed their
children longer. She showed a picture of her child and expressed
her appreciation to the committee. SENATOR ELLIS noted that MS.
ABBOT helped prepare this legislation and he applauded her efforts.
Number 232
MS. SHARON GLICK testified to the fact that mothers need to get out
of the house to retain their sanity. MS. GLICK said babies get
breast-fed on demand and that means mothers never know where they
may need to feed their baby. She said this bill is really about the
rights of the baby to be able to nurse whenever and wherever they
need to.
MS. SUSAN POLLARD said this bill is a step toward making breast-
feeding the cultural norm. She thanked CHAIRMAN TAYLOR and the
committee for allowing the bills passage on behalf of every mother
and baby who can now nurse more comfortably.
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR remarked that the bill is about a cultural shift;
saying it harkens back to 250-300 years of puritanical concerns
about viewing the body. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR said personally, nothing
makes him feel more comfortable and warms his heart more than a
nursing mother with her baby.
MS. HEATHER BARBER, a Mat-Su mom, added her support to the bill.
Number 285
MR. STEVEN JAQUIER, who described himself as the "token male"
expressed his personal belief that breast fed babies do better than
bottle fed babies and thanked the committee for the piece of
legislation.
MS. MONICA GROSS, a pediatrician and mother of three, supported the
bill and said it sends a message to the rest of the nation that the
people of Alaska support its children.
Ms. CAREN ROBINSON, representing the Alaska Women's Lobby,
expressed strong support for the bill and spoke of her personal
experience nursing her son, saying it was an incredible bonding
experience she will never forget.
MS. MARGIE HAMBURGER spoke in favor of the bill, saying that
employers should also be educated and encouraged to support breast-
feeding mothers.
Ms. PAM CURE commented that in a culture that pervasively depicts
women as sex objects, the nurturing role of a breast-feeding mom is
even more important and should be encouraged. MS. CURE said a
mother should be free to enjoy society and this bill allows for the
protection of that freedom. She wholeheartedly supports the bill.
Number 363
MS. GRACE ELLIOT said she was thrilled to see the bill. She
recalled a campaign to promote breast-feeding she encountered in
Canada which employed huge billboards saying, "Fast food - Two
convenient locations" and "Sometimes it's ok to suck up to the
boss."
MS. ANNE CARPENETI, representing the Department of Law, explained
that her interpretation of section 3 of the bill, about "indecent
viewing," is that it prohibits someone from secretly photographing
a woman who is breast-feeding. In response to a question from
SENATOR PARNELL, she said it is not intended to apply to anything
else. MS. CARPENETI said the Department supports the bill.
MS. CARPENETI said, in order to correspond with SENATOR ELLIS's
amendment, she believes the word "crime" should be changed to
"offense" on page 2, line 28. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR moved this change as
amendment #2. Without objection, the amendment was adopted.
SENATOR ELLIS moved the bill out of committee with individual
recommendations. Without objection, it was so ordered.
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