Breastfeeding moms might soon be excused from jury duty in Ohio.
State Rep. Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville) proposed House Bill 13, which was introduced last month, to make an amendment to the Revised Code after a constituent told her about an experience while serving on a jury while breastfeeding.
The bill would permit a mother who is breastfeeding her baby to be excused from jury service. If passed, the prospective juror would have to provide a signed affidavit to support an excuse from duty due to breastfeeding — although a nursing mom can still serve, if she wishes.
“I think it’s important for mothers to be able to continue to nurse and have the privacy and comfort to do that,” Gonzales says. “I thought this was a very important issue myself as mother who has breastfed.”
The bill currently is under review in the House Government Accountability and Oversight Committee. Currently, 17 states and Puerto Rico exempt breastfeeding mothers from jury duty or allow jury service to be postponed, according to the National Conference of State Legislators.
