Bill Text: TX HB243 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the promotion of breast-feeding and the prohibition against interference with or restriction of the right to breast-feed; creating a civil action.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-29 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB243 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB243-Introduced.html
  86R1866 KKR-F
 
  By: Farrar H.B. No. 243
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the promotion of breast-feeding and the prohibition
  against interference with or restriction of the right to
  breast-feed; creating a civil action.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 165.001 and 165.002, Health and Safety
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 165.001.  LEGISLATIVE FINDING.  The legislature finds
  that breast-feeding a baby is an important and basic act of nurture
  that must be encouraged in the interests of maternal and child
  health and family values. In compliance with the breast-feeding
  promotion program established under the federal Child Nutrition Act
  of 1966 (42 U.S.C. Section 1771 et seq.), the legislature
  recognizes breast-feeding as the best method of infant nutrition.
  The legislature intends for all persons to be informed of the rights
  of a breast-feeding mother and child and to be prohibited from
  interfering with those rights.
         Sec. 165.002.  RIGHT TO BREAST-FEED.  (a)  A mother is
  entitled to breast-feed her baby in any location in which the
  mother's and child's presence on the premises [mother] is otherwise 
  authorized [to be]. The authorization may not be revoked solely
  because the mother is breast-feeding the child.
         (b)  A person may not interfere with or restrict the right of
  a mother to breast-feed in accordance with this section.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 165, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 165.005 to read as follows:
         Sec. 165.005.  STATE AGENCY "MOTHER-FRIENDLY" WORKSITE. To
  the extent reasonably practicable, each state agency shall develop
  a policy supporting the practice of worksite breast-feeding under
  Section 165.003.
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 165, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapter C to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER C.  NOTIFICATION OF RIGHT AND CIVIL CAUSE OF ACTION
         Sec. 165.101.  NOTIFICATION BY COMPTROLLER.  (a)  The
  comptroller at least annually shall include in the comptroller's
  tax policy e-newsletter, or another electronic notification,
  information on a mother's right to breast-feed and the prohibition
  against interference with or restriction of that right as provided
  by Section 165.002.
         (b)  The comptroller shall make the notice required by
  Subsection (a) available at each taxpayer seminar offered by the
  office of the comptroller.
         (c)  The comptroller may provide the notification required
  by this section with any other notice or document mailed to a person
  with whom the comptroller communicates.
         Sec. 165.102.  CIVIL CAUSE OF ACTION. (a) A mother may
  bring a civil action against a person who allegedly violates the
  mother's right to breast-feed a child under Section 165.002.
         (b)  A mother who prevails in an action under this section is
  entitled to obtain:
               (1)  injunctive relief;
               (2)  damages in an amount not to exceed $500 for each
  day the violation occurs; and
               (3)  reasonable attorney's fees and court costs.
         (c)  Notwithstanding any other law, a person liable for
  damages under Subsection (b)(2) is liable for only one award of $500
  for each day a violation of Section 165.002 occurs, and for all
  violations of Section 165.002 the person commits on that day,
  regardless of the number of violations alleged or the number of
  mothers alleging a violation.  A mother may recover only one award
  for damages for each day a violation of Section 165.002 occurs,
  regardless of the number of persons who violate that section.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
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