On Thu, 6 Jul 2006 09:35:07 -0700, Susan Johnson [log in to unmask]
wrote about: Breastfeeding legislation and politics.

>>Of course, now we need to address Utah statutes again as women continue to
be harassed for bf in public -- probably because Utah has no teeth behind
the language, no fine or jail time.....  One local business actually
announces on its website "no breast feeding [sic] facilities available" --
apparently unaware that any business with a door open IS a "bf facility!"<<

Susan - in New York, the legislation is part of the Civil Rights law (#79-e.
Right to breastfeed).  As a result, the penalties for violating someone's
civil rights apply to the "Right to breastfeed" (penalties:  up to $5000
and/or up to 5 years in prison).  To date, I have not heard of any penalty
being levied for being harassed for NIP; probably nobody has even brought
any charges against anyone.  However, when it was passed on 5/15/94, the
media made a big deal of it and the news articles included the penalties.
When trying to have legislation passed, it might be an idea to look at where
it will be placed and what penalties for violations are involved.  I don't
know enough about law to know if there are any laws that do not involve
penalties for violations.

As for that local business, it should be possible to make it aware that a
law is being violated; maybe a friendly pro-bono lawyer could advise as to
how to word that communication and how to find out if there are any
penalties that are not common knowledge.

Lee Galasso, MS, IBCLC, RLC


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