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.