This measure would recognize August 2017 as the Breastfeeding Awareness Month of 2017 in California. The measure would encourage Californians to work together to support breastfeeding.

This measure would recognize August 2017 as the Breastfeeding Awareness Month of 2017 in California. The measure would encourage Californians to work together to support breastfeeding.

This measure would recognize August 2017 as the Breastfeeding Awareness Month of 2017 in California. The measure would encourage Californians to work together to support breastfeeding.

WHEREAS, Breastfeeding is of great importance to women, children, families, and physicians; thus it is also of great importance to the Legislature; and

WHEREAS, The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, and the World Health Organization recommend that children be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of age and continue to be breastfed until 12 months of age or longer as mutually desired; and

WHEREAS, Only 24.8 percent of California children are exclusively breastfed at six months of age; and

WHEREAS, In January 2011, the United States Surgeon General announced a "Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding" that identifies barriers to optimal breastfeeding in health care practices, employment, communities, research, public health infrastructure, and social networks, and recommends methods in which families, communities, employers, and health care professionals could help eliminate those barriers to improve breastfeeding rates and increase support for breastfeeding; and

WHEREAS, Research shows that breastfeeding provides advantages to general health, growth, and development while significantly decreasing the risk of a large number of acute and chronic diseases, including, among others, sudden infant death syndrome, asthma, allergies, diabetes, viral and bacterial infections, childhood obesity, childhood leukemia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and infant mortality; and

WHEREAS, Mothers who breastfeed have a decreased risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancers, postpartum depression, and osteoporosis; and

WHEREAS, The nutrients exclusive to breast milk are vital to the growth, development, and maintenance of a childrens brain and cannot be manufactured; and

WHEREAS, The United States Department of Agricultures Economic Research Service estimates that at least 3.6 billion dollars in medical expenses could be saved each year if the number of children breastfed for at least six months increased to 50 percent; and

WHEREAS, Breastfeeding results in positive economic impacts for families by eliminating the need to purchase infant formula and by decreasing the need to pay for medical care for a sick child and; and

WHEREAS, The health benefits to breastfed children and their mothers result in lower health care costs for employers, less employee time off to care for sick children, higher employee productivity, and an increase in employee loyalty; and

WHEREAS, Employers, employees, and society benefit by supporting a mothers decision to breastfeed and by helping to reduce the obstacles to initiating and continuing breastfeeding; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That August 2017 is recognized as the Breastfeeding Awareness Month of 2017 in California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature further recognizes the unique health, economic, and societal benefits that breastfeeding provides to mothers, children, families, and the community as a whole and encourages Californians to work together to support breastfeeding and ensure that barriers to initiation and continuation of breastfeeding be removed; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages employers to support their employees who breastfeed by striving to provide accommodations of appropriate space and time; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages programs that administer maternal or child health services to provide information about breastfeeding to program participants, and to support program participants when they choose to breastfeed; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, Breastfeeding is of great importance to women, children, families, and physicians; thus it is also of great importance to the Legislature; and

WHEREAS, The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, and the World Health Organization recommend that children be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of age and continue to be breastfed until 12 months of age or longer as mutually desired; and

WHEREAS, Only 24.8 percent of California children are exclusively breastfed at six months of age; and

WHEREAS, In January 2011, the United States Surgeon General announced a "Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding" that identifies barriers to optimal breastfeeding in health care practices, employment, communities, research, public health infrastructure, and social networks, and recommends methods in which families, communities, employers, and health care professionals could help eliminate those barriers to improve breastfeeding rates and increase support for breastfeeding; and

WHEREAS, Research shows that breastfeeding provides advantages to general health, growth, and development while significantly decreasing the risk of a large number of acute and chronic diseases, including, among others, sudden infant death syndrome, asthma, allergies, diabetes, viral and bacterial infections, childhood obesity, childhood leukemia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and infant mortality; and

WHEREAS, Mothers who breastfeed have a decreased risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancers, postpartum depression, and osteoporosis; and

WHEREAS, The nutrients exclusive to breast milk are vital to the growth, development, and maintenance of a childrens brain and cannot be manufactured; and

WHEREAS, The United States Department of Agricultures Economic Research Service estimates that at least 3.6 billion dollars in medical expenses could be saved each year if the number of children breastfed for at least six months increased to 50 percent; and

WHEREAS, Breastfeeding results in positive economic impacts for families by eliminating the need to purchase infant formula and by decreasing the need to pay for medical care for a sick child and; and

WHEREAS, The health benefits to breastfed children and their mothers result in lower health care costs for employers, less employee time off to care for sick children, higher employee productivity, and an increase in employee loyalty; and

WHEREAS, Employers, employees, and society benefit by supporting a mothers decision to breastfeed and by helping to reduce the obstacles to initiating and continuing breastfeeding; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That August 2017 is recognized as the Breastfeeding Awareness Month of 2017 in California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature further recognizes the unique health, economic, and societal benefits that breastfeeding provides to mothers, children, families, and the community as a whole and encourages Californians to work together to support breastfeeding and ensure that barriers to initiation and continuation of breastfeeding be removed; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages employers to support their employees who breastfeed by striving to provide accommodations of appropriate space and time; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages programs that administer maternal or child health services to provide information about breastfeeding to program participants, and to support program participants when they choose to breastfeed; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

WHEREAS, Breastfeeding is of great importance to women, children, families, and physicians; thus it is also of great importance to the Legislature; and

WHEREAS, The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, and the World Health Organization recommend that children be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of age and continue to be breastfed until 12 months of age or longer as mutually desired; and

WHEREAS, Only 24.8 percent of California children are exclusively breastfed at six months of age; and

WHEREAS, In January 2011, the United States Surgeon General announced a "Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding" that identifies barriers to optimal breastfeeding in health care practices, employment, communities, research, public health infrastructure, and social networks, and recommends methods in which families, communities, employers, and health care professionals could help eliminate those barriers to improve breastfeeding rates and increase support for breastfeeding; and

WHEREAS, Research shows that breastfeeding provides advantages to general health, growth, and development while significantly decreasing the risk of a large number of acute and chronic diseases, including, among others, sudden infant death syndrome, asthma, allergies, diabetes, viral and bacterial infections, childhood obesity, childhood leukemia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and infant mortality; and

WHEREAS, Mothers who breastfeed have a decreased risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancers, postpartum depression, and osteoporosis; and

WHEREAS, The nutrients exclusive to breast milk are vital to the growth, development, and maintenance of a childrens brain and cannot be manufactured; and

WHEREAS, The United States Department of Agricultures Economic Research Service estimates that at least 3.6 billion dollars in medical expenses could be saved each year if the number of children breastfed for at least six months increased to 50 percent; and

WHEREAS, Breastfeeding results in positive economic impacts for families by eliminating the need to purchase infant formula and by decreasing the need to pay for medical care for a sick child and; and

WHEREAS, The health benefits to breastfed children and their mothers result in lower health care costs for employers, less employee time off to care for sick children, higher employee productivity, and an increase in employee loyalty; and

WHEREAS, Employers, employees, and society benefit by supporting a mothers decision to breastfeed and by helping to reduce the obstacles to initiating and continuing breastfeeding; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That August 2017 is recognized as the Breastfeeding Awareness Month of 2017 in California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature further recognizes the unique health, economic, and societal benefits that breastfeeding provides to mothers, children, families, and the community as a whole and encourages Californians to work together to support breastfeeding and ensure that barriers to initiation and continuation of breastfeeding be removed; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages employers to support their employees who breastfeed by striving to provide accommodations of appropriate space and time; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages programs that administer maternal or child health services to provide information about breastfeeding to program participants, and to support program participants when they choose to breastfeed; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

 THIRD READING 

Bill No: ACR 113

Author: Rubio (D)

Introduced: 7/13/17

Vote: 21

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 73-0, 8/31/17 (Consent) - See last page for vote

SUBJECT: Breastfeeding Awareness Month of 2017

SOURCE: California WIC Association

DIGEST:

This resolution recognizes August 2017 as the Breastfeeding Awareness Month of 2017 in California, and encourages Californians to work together to support breastfeeding.

ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative findings:

1. Breastfeeding is of great importance to women, children, families, and physicians; thus it is also of great importance to the Legislature.
2. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, and the World Health Organization recommend that children be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of age and continue to be breastfed until 12 months of age or longer as mutually desired. Only 24.8% of California children are exclusively breastfed at six months of age.
3. In January 2011, the United States Surgeon General announced a "Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding" that identifies barriers to optimal breastfeeding in health care practices, employment, communities, research, public health infrastructure, and social networks, and recommends methods in which families, communities, employers, and health care professionals could help eliminate those barriers to improve breastfeeding rates and increase support for breastfeeding.
4. Research shows that breastfeeding provides advantages to general health, growth, and development while significantly decreasing the risk of a large number of acute and chronic diseases.
5. The nutrients exclusive to breast milk are vital to the growth, development, and maintenance of a children’s brain and cannot be manufactured.
6. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service estimates that at least $3.6 billion in medical expenses could be saved each year if the number of children breastfed for at least six months increased to 50%.
7. Employers, employees, and society benefit by supporting a mother’s decision to breastfeed and by helping to reduce the obstacles to initiating and continuing breastfeeding.

This resolution recognizes August 2017 as the Breastfeeding Awareness Month of 2017 in California; and further recognizes the unique health, economic, and societal benefits that breastfeeding provides to mothers, children, families, and the community as a whole and encourages Californians to work together to support breastfeeding and ensure that barriers to initiation and continuation of breastfeeding be removed.

This resolution encourages employers to support their employees who breastfeed by striving to provide accommodations of appropriate space and time; and encourages programs that administer maternal or child health services to provide information about breastfeeding to program participants, and to support program participants when they choose to breastfeed.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 9/5/17)

California WIC Association (source)

OPPOSITION: (Verified 9/5/17)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 73-0, 8/31/17

AYES: Acosta, Aguiar-Curry, Travis Allen, Arambula, Baker, Berman, Bigelow, Bocanegra, Bonta, Brough, Caballero, Calderon, Cervantes, Chau, Chávez, Chen, Chiu, Choi, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Cunningham, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Eggman, Flora, Fong, Frazier, Friedman, Gallagher, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez Fletcher, Gray, Grayson, Harper, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Kiley, Lackey, Levine, Limón, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Patterson, Quirk, Reyes, Rodriguez, Rubio, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Voepel, Waldron, Weber, Wood, Rendon

NO VOTE RECORDED: Bloom, Burke, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Quirk-Silva, Ridley-Thomas

Prepared by: Melissa Ward / SFA / (916) 651-1520

9/6/17 16:23:11

**** END ****

Date of Hearing: August 29, 2017

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

Jim Wood, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:ACR 113

Author:(Rubio) – As Introduced Ver:July 13, 2017

SUBJECT: Breastfeeding Awareness Month of 2017.

SUMMARY: Recognizes August 2017 as the Breastfeeding Awareness Month of 2017 in California and encourages Californians to work together to support breastfeeding. Specifically, this resolution:

1. Finds that breastfeeding is of great importance to women, children, families, physicians, and the Legislature.
2. Finds that the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Family Physicians and other organizations recommend that children be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of age and continue to be breastfed until 12 months of age or longer.
3. Finds that in January 2011 the United States Surgeon General announced a "Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding" that identifies barriers to optimal breastfeeding in health care practices, employment, communities, research, public health infrastructure, and social networks, and recommends methods to help families, communities, employers, and health care professionals eliminate barriers and improve breastfeeding rates.
4. Finds that research shows that breastfeeding provides advantages to general health, growth, and development while significantly decreasing the risk of a large number of acute and chronic diseases, including sudden infant death syndrome, asthma, allergies, diabetes, and childhood obesity.
5. Finds that employers, employees, and society benefit by supporting a mother's decision to breastfeed and by helping to reduce the obstacles to initiating and continuing breastfeeding.
6. Resolves that the Legislature recognizes the unique health, economic, and societal benefits that breastfeeding provides to mothers, children, families, and the community as a whole and encourages Californians to work together to support breastfeeding and ensure that barriers to initiation and continuation of breastfeeding be removed.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Provides that a mother may breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, where the mother and the child are otherwise authorized to be present.
2. Requires employers to provide reasonable unpaid break time and to make reasonable efforts to provide the use of an appropriate room for an employee to express breast milk for the employee's infant child.
   
3. Requires the Department of Public Health to include in its public service campaign the promotion of mothers' breastfeeding their infants and to develop a training course of hospital policies and recommendations that promote exclusive breastfeeding and specify staff for whom this model training is appropriate.

FISCAL EFFECT: None.

COMMENTS:

1. PURPOSE OF THIS BILL. According to the author, currently only 24.8% of children are exclusively breastfed at six months of age, however studies show lifelong benefits of breastfeeding such as advantages to general health, growth and development to children and a decreased risk of certain cancers in mothers. The author states that this resolution was introduced to increase awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding in hopes that more parents will answer this call to action and support and practice breastfeeding.
2. BACKGROUND. Both mothers and children benefit from breast milk. Breast milk contains antibodies that protect infants from bacteria and viruses. Breastfed children have fewer ear, respiratory and urinary tract infections and have diarrhea less often. Infants who are exclusively breastfed tend to need fewer health care visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations resulting in a lower total medical care cost compared to never-breastfed infants.

Breastfeeding also provides long-term preventative effects for the mother, including an earlier return to pre-pregnancy weight and a reduced risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer and osteoporosis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 77% of mothers start breastfeeding immediately after birth, but only about 16% of those moms are breastfeeding exclusively six months later. As a part of the Healthy People 2020 initiative, the national goal is to increase the proportion of mothers who breastfeed their babies in the early postpartum period to 81.9% by the year 2020.

More than half of states (29, including California) have already met the Healthy People 2020 objective of 81.9% ever breastfeeding. However, despite high initiation rates and continued improvement in breastfeeding duration, most states, including California, are not yet meeting the Healthy People 2020 duration and exclusivity rates.

In 2001 the Legislature passed AB 1025 by Assembly Member Frommer, which requires employers to provide reasonable unpaid break time and to make reasonable efforts to provide the use of an appropriate room for an employee to express breast milk for the employee's infant child; however the Assembly had implemented the policy five years previously. During the leadership transition in 1996, Speaker Pringle created the New Mother’s Room at the request of Deborah Gonzalez, his policy director, who had given birth to her second daughter on December 31st. Deborah had shared with the Speaker how the lack of private offices made it difficult for new mothers to continue breastfeeding when they returned to work. The room, which is on the Assembly side of the 4th floor in the historic Capitol building, has been available to staff for 21 years.

1. SUPPORT. The California WIC Association (CWA) is the sponsor of this resolution and states that research shows that breastfeeding provides advantages to general health, growth, and development while significantly decreasing the risk of a large number of acute and chronic diseases including sudden infant death syndrome, asthma, allergies, diabetes, and viral and bacterial infections. CWA concludes that it is important to raise public awareness to these issues.
2. PREVIOUS LEGISLATION.
   1. AB 157 (Villaraigosa), Chapter 59, Statutes of 1997, provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law, a mother may breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, where the mother and the child are otherwise authorized to be present.
      
   2. AB 1025 (Frommer), Chapter 821, Statutes of 2001 requires employers to provide reasonable unpaid break time and to make reasonable efforts to provide the use of

an appropriate room for an employee to express breast milk for the employee's infant child.

• 1. SB 402 (De Leon), Chapter 666, Statutes of 2013, requires all general acute care hospitals and special hospitals, that have a perinatal unit by January 1, 2025, to adopt the “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding,” as adopted by Baby-Friendly USA, per the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, or an alternate process adopted by a health care service plan that includes evidenced-based policies and practices and targeted outcomes, or the Model Hospital Policy Recommendations, as defined.
     
  2. AB 2386 (Allen), Chapter 701, Statutes of 2012, adds breastfeeding and related medical conditions to the definition of ‘sex’ as a protected category for unlawful employment discrimination under state law.
     

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

California WIC Association (sponsor)

Opposition

None on file.

Analysis Prepared by: Lara Flynn / HEALTH / (916) 319-2097