The process of breastfeeding an infant or pumping breast milk at work would be simpler if a woman had a private, clean space to do so, according to supporters of a new law.
Assemblywoman Monique Limon (D-Santa Barbara), vice chair of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus, wrote AB 1976 and described the amendment to the existing labor code as a small change that provides additional support to working mothers.
Previously the law required that employer allowed for time to accommodate an employee who needs to express breast milk and a place to do so that wasn't a toilet stall.
In order to comply with the new law, an employer would need to provide a private, enclosed space solely for lactation while in use by the woman expressing milk.
Sara Diaz, California WIC Association media and policy coordinator, explained to ABC10 that it can be hard to express milk in a place with such high-traffic.
For people who work at small or struggling businesses, their employers may only be able to create temporary spaces for those who need to breastfeed or pump milk. Businesses that can prove providing a permanent or temporary space would cause undue hardship to the Department of Industrial Relations could be exempt from providing a space to employees.
The full bill can be seen here.
RELATED: Moms Explain It All
WATCH NOW: Parenting advice from real, actual moms. All about spanking. When kids frustrate you is it right or a good idea to spank them? Does spanking actually work? These moms explain it all.