Bill Text - SB497 (2018)

Relative to breast-feeding.


Revision: Dec. 20, 2017, 12:50 p.m.

SB 497-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2018 SESSION

18-3012

08/04

 

SENATE BILL 497-FN

 

AN ACT relative to breast-feeding.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Lasky, Dist 13; Rep. McBeath, Rock. 26; Rep. Butler, Carr. 7; Rep. Cushing, Rock. 21; Rep. Cahill, Rock. 17

 

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill creates a cause of action for a person who believes she has been discriminated against for breast-feeding.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

18-3012

08/04

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen

 

AN ACT relative to breast-feeding.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Breast-feeding; Discrimination.  Amend RSA 132:10-d to read as follows:

132:10-d  Breast-feeding.  Breast-feeding a child does not constitute an act of indecent exposure and to restrict or limit the right of a mother to breast-feed her child is discriminatory.  A person who believes her right to breast-feed her child has been violated may file a discrimination claim with the state commission for human rights under RSA 354-A or may seek immediate injunctive relief in district or superior court.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2019.

 

LBAO

18-3012

12/8/17

 

SB 497-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to breast-feeding.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

 

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2019

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

   Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Expenditures

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Funding Source:

  [ X ] General            [    ] Education            [    ] Highway           [    ] Other

 

 

 

 

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill would provide that a person who believes her right to breast-feed her child has been violated may file a discrimination claim under RSA 354-A or may seek immediate injunctive relief in the district or superior court.  

 

The Judicial Branch indicates enforcement of discriminatory practices under RSA 354-A:7 is by the Human Right Commission; however, pursuant to RSA 354-A:22, any person aggrieved by an order of the Human Rights Commission may appeal that order to the superior court.  The Branch has no information on how many such appeals would be filed, but does have information on the cost of such appeals.  Such an appeal would be classified as a complex equity case in the superior court.  The cost of an average complex equity case in the superior court will be $740 in FY 2019 and $746 in FY 2020.  Regarding claims for injunctive relief, the Branch has no information on the how many such claims would be filed, but indicates such claims would also be classified as complex equity cases in the superior courts.  As stated above, the cost of an average complex equity case in the superior court will be $740 in FY 2019 and $746 in FY 2020.  It should be noted that average case cost estimates for FY 2019 and FY 2020 are based on data that is more than ten years old and does not reflect changes to the courts over that same period of time or the impact these changes may have on processing the various case types.

 

The Human Rights Commission indicates this bill would expressly authorize the Commission to hear and resolve charges brought by individuals who believe their breast-feeding rights have been violated.  The Commission states the bill does not establish any new rights or expand existing rights, but clarifies the availability administrative and judicial forums for protection of rights.  The Commission has been accepting and resolving breast-feeding discrimination charges for many year under their existing jurisdiction, which defines discrimination on the basis of sex to include pregnancy and medical conditions which result from pregnancy.  The Commission indicates, because the bill does not impose any new requirements on the commission, this bill would not have a material impact on the Commission’s revenues or expenditures.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Judicial Branch and Human Rights Commission