SENATE WOMEN'S ISSUES, CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1212

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: NOVEMBER 18, 1996

      The Senate Women's Issues, Children and Family Services Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 1212.

      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.

      This bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 548 (1R), sponsored by Assemblywoman Turner, which was amended and released by this commitee on November 18, 1996.