Bill Text: MS HB757 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Breastfeeding Mothers' Bill of Rights; require maternal health care facilities to display on their premises.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Failed) 2015-02-03 - Died In Committee [HB757 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2015-HB757-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Public Health and Human Services; Appropriations
By: Representative Espy
House Bill 757
AN ACT TO REQUIRE MATERNAL HEALTH CARE FACILITIES IN MISSISSIPPI TO DISPLAY ON THEIR PREMISES A BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS' BILL OF RIGHTS THAT OUTLINES THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING AND THE RIGHTS OF BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI IN ORDER TO DECREASE EDUCATIONAL BARRIERS TO BREASTFEEDING AND ADDRESS THE LOW BREASTFEEDING RATES WITHIN THE STATE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) The Legislature of the State of Mississippi acknowledges that extensive research demonstrates the wide-ranging and compelling benefits of breastfeeding for infants, mothers, families and communities, including:
(a) Numerous health benefits to the child, such as lower incidences of SIDS, childhood obesity, asthma, allergies and diabetes as well as increased intelligence and parental attachment;
(b) Numerous health benefits to the mother, such as decreased rates of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, postpartum hemorrhage, and reduced rates of obesity through increased postpartum weight loss;
(c) Significant economic and social benefits to the state, such as reduced health care costs, and reduced employee absenteeism for care attributable to child illness as well as direct saving to families, as the United States Surgeon General estimates that the average family can save between One Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($1,200.00) and One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) during a baby's first year of life through breastfeeding.
(2) The Legislature also recognizes, despite these numerous benefits, that Mississippi has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the country and acknowledges that mothers in Mississippi face many barriers to breastfeeding. One of these barriers is education, which many studies and reports have found to be a significant obstacle that inhibits the practice of breastfeeding. Many mothers are ill-informed about the benefits of breastfeeding and their rights as a breastfeeding mother.
(3) Therefore, the Legislature declares the intent of this act is to inform mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding and their rights as a breastfeeding mother in order to promote increased rates of breastfeeding in Mississippi.
SECTION 2. As used in this act, the following words and phrases have the meanings as defined in this section:
(a) "Prenatal" means the period between conception to birth.
(b) "Perinatal" means the period from twenty-two (22) weeks of gestation to twenty-eight (28) days after birth.
(c) "Public place" means a place of increased patient traffic within the maternal health care facility such as a lobby area or waiting room.
(d) "Maternal health care facility" means any facility that provides prenatal or perinatal care, including, but not limited to, hospitals, clinics and other physician facilities.
(d) "Maternal health care provider" means any physician, nurse or other authorized practitioner that attends to pregnant women and mothers of infants.
(e) "Breastfeeding Mothers' Bill of Rights" is the statement of rights outlined in Section 4 of this act.
SECTION 3. (1) All maternal health care facilities in the State of Mississippi are required to post a copy of the "Breastfeeding Mothers' Bill of Rights" outlined in Section 4 of this act. A copy of such statement of rights shall be posted conspicuously in a public place of each maternal health care facility and shall be of an adequate size and font so as to be easily read by all visitors and/or patients within the room or space.
(2) The State Department of Health shall make available to every maternal health care provider and maternal health care facility, via its website, a template copy of the statement of rights for use within their facilities. Maternal health care providers and maternal health care facilities are free to choose whether to use the Department of Health template or develop their own copy as long as it includes the specific text outlined in Section 4 of this act and comports to the visibility requirements in subsection (1) of this section.
(3) The State Board of Health shall adopt any rules and regulations necessary to ensure the display of these rights.
SECTION 4. The statement of rights or the "Breastfeeding Mothers' Bill of Rights" to be displayed by maternal health care facilities shall consist of the following statements:
"Mississippi Breastfeeding Mothers' Bill of Rights.
(1) Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for your baby, creating the perfect mix of vitamins, proteins, minerals, and fats that your baby needs to grow.
(2) Know the Benefits:
(a) Breastfed babies are generally healthier and have lower incidences of illnesses such as diabetes, ear infections, allergies, asthma, and childhood obesity.
(b) Breastfeeding has been linked to higher IQs in children.
(c) Mothers who breastfeed have lower incidences of breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
(d) Breastfeeding for even as short as the first week can have a positive health impact on your child.
(3) Know Your Rights:
(a) You have the right to breastfeed in any location, public or private, where you are otherwise authorized to be, which includes hospitals, playgrounds, restaurants, and/or stores.
(b) You have the right to breastfeed openly and outwardly without covering yourself if you so choose, and doing so is not considered indecent and is not punishable by law.
(c) Your employer cannot discriminate against you for using your designated break times to pump or nurse your child.
(d) You have the right to breastfeed your baby within the first hour after birth.
(e) You have the right to request that your baby not receive formula or pacifiers unless medically necessary.
(f) You have the right to ask that your baby be brought to you, day or night, for regular feedings during your hospital stay."
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.
