House Health & Human Services committee has 1 bill on Tues Feb 10

On Tuesday, February 10th, at 7:45 AM the SD House Health & Human Services committee will take on 1 bill.

SB 77 – SoDakLiberty Posts – Allow nursing mothers to breastfeed in certain locations.

Sen Phil Jensen – (R, Dist 33) and Rep Lynne DiSanto (R, Dist 35) are the prime sponsors. Here are my notes about the bill before it hit the Senate floor:

This bill passed Senate Health 5-0, that was after failing to pass and then being amended. This is a bill I really don’t think should have been necessary, but apparently some people don’t understand breastfeeding is a natural act (and when babies are hungry, they are hungry now!). The amendment in committee took out the “notwithstanding” and seemed to make sure it was in compliance with other laws. I believe that amendment undoes the actual intent of the bill. Personally I hope it gets amended back to its original state. The law as amended does prevent outright bans of public breastfeeding, so I guess that is one good portion still left in the bill.

The bill did pass the Senate floor with a vote of 33-0. I still don’t think the bill needed to be amended.