Breastfeeding Law: California

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    img source: cnn.com

    43.3. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a mother may
    breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, except the
    private home or residence of another, where the mother and the child
    are otherwise authorized to be present.

    Enforcement Provision

    None

    Workplace Pumping Law

    LABOR CODE
    SECTION 1030-1033

    1030. Every employer, including the state and any political
    subdivision, shall provide a reasonable amount of break time to
    accommodate an employee desiring to express breast milk for the
    employee’s infant child. The break time shall, if possible, run
    concurrently with any break time already provided to the employee.
    Break time for an employee that does not run concurrently with the
    rest time authorized for the employee by the applicable wage order of
    the Industrial Welfare Commission shall be unpaid.

    1031. The employer shall make reasonable efforts to provide the
    an employee with the use of a room or other location, other than a
    toilet stall, in close proximity to the employee’s work area, for the
    employee to express milk in private. The room or location may
    include the place where the employee normally works if it otherwise
    meets the requirements of this section.

    1032. An employer is not required to provide break time under this
    chapter, if to do so, would seriously disrupt the operations of the
    employer.

    [UPDATE] The California Fair Employment and Housing Act that states it is unlawful to engage in specified discriminatory practices in employment or housing accommodations on the basis of sex were amended in 2012 to clarify that the term “sex” also includes breastfeeding or medical conditions related to breastfeeding. This means the penalties for discrimination on the basis of sex under this Act now apply to discrimination on the basis of breastfeeding. See specifics below.

    Enforcement Provision

    1033. (a) An employer who violates any provision of this chapter
    shall be subject to a civil penalty in the amount of one hundred
    dollars ($100) for each violation.
    (b) If, upon inspection or investigation, the Labor Commissioner
    determines that a violation of this chapter has occurred, the Labor
    Commissioner may issue a citation. The procedures for issuing,
    contesting, and enforcing judgments for citations or civil penalties
    issued by the Labor Commissioner for violations of this chapter shall
    be the same as those set forth in Section 1197.1.
    (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, violations
    of this chapter shall not be misdemeanors under this code.

    [Morale of  this story – file a complaint with the California Department of Labor if you feel your rights are being violated under California’s Workplace pumping law.][penalty for violation of CA Fair Employment and Housing Act] SECTION 1. Section 12926 of the Government Code is amended to
    read:
    12926. As used in this part in connection with unlawful practices, unless
    a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
    (a)  “Affirmative relief” or “prospective relief” includes the authority to
    order reinstatement of an employee, awards of back pay, reimbursement of
    out-of-pocket expenses, hiring, transfers, reassignments, grants of tenure,
    promotions, cease and desist orders, posting of notices, training of personnel,
    testing, expunging of records, reporting of records, and any other similar
    relief that is intended to correct unlawful practices under this part.