Gazette-Times

Nursing mothers would have the right to a private space at work for expressing breast milk under a bill that cleared the Oregon House on Thursday.

House Bill 2372 passed by a vote of 49-7. All representatives whose districts include parts of the mid-valley voted for the bill.

The bill goes to the state Senate, where it is expected to pass as well.

The measure would require employers with 25 or more workers to provide unpaid rest periods to nursing mothers and to "make reasonable efforts to provide a private location where the employee can express milk."

The private space required must be in "close proximity" to the woman's work station.

Restrooms or toilet stalls do not qualify as a private space under the bill.

School districts would have to write policies to accommodate nursing mothers and publish the policies in their handbooks.

Anyone intentionally violating the provisions of the measure would be subject to a $1,000 fine.

House Speaker Jeff Merkley, D-Portland, hailed the passage of the bill. In a prepared statement he said: "There is no nutrient as important to an infant as breast milk. This bill gives nursing mothers more opportunities to provide that nourishment to their children and that is something we should encourage in as many ways as possible."

The bill requires only that employees be allowed to express their breast milk; it does not require that mothers be allowed to actually nurse their children in the workplace.

"It's a great day for mothers and babies in Oregon," said Rep. Carolyn Tomei, D-Milwaukie, chairwoman of the Human Services and Women's Wellness Committee. "Working moms now don't have to choose between the health of their babies and keeping their jobs."

According to a statement put out by the speaker's office, three members of the Human Services Committee opposed the bill as it was originally introduced, but eventually it passed the committee on a unanimous vote. One of the members is Rep. Andy Olson, R-Albany.

In total, 18 amendments were offered by Rep. Tomei and approved by the committee to gain broader support for the bill.