SENATE WOMEN'S ISSUES, CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 548

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: NOVEMBER 18, 1996

      The Senate Women's Issues, Children and Family Services Committee favorably reports Assembly Bill No. 548(1R) with committee amendments.

      As amended, this bill amends New Jersey's civil rights law, chapter 1 of Title 10 of the Revised Statutes (C.10:1-1 et seq.) to allow a mother the right to breast feed her child in any location of a place of public accommodation, resort or amusement where the mother is otherwise permitted. Breast feeding has been recommended by the Surgeon General as an important way to give babies a healthy start on life. Its benefits include improved digestion, a strengthened immune system, a potential increase in a baby's IQ level and the creation of a strong mother-baby bond.

      The committee amended the bill to clarify that a mother is allowed to breast her child in any location or place of public accomodation, resort or amusement where the mother is otherwise permitted.

      This bill is identical to Senate Bill No. 1212, sponsored by Senators Bennett and Sinagra, which was also released by this committee on November 18, 1996.