STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1781

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 122

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 122 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS' BILL OF RIGHTS OFFERED AS SENATE BILL NO. 1674 AND ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 3782 IN THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to promote breastfeeding rights and tolerance.

     Specifically, this measure supports the Breastfeeding Mothers' Bill of Rights that is being offered before the New York State Legislature as Senate Bill No. 1674 and Assembly Bill No. 3782.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawai‘i.  The International Formula Council submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that there are two measures before the New York State Legislature that propose the adoption of a statement of rights, known as the Breastfeeding Mothers' Bill of Rights.  The measures provide mothers with basic breastfeeding-related rights before, during, and after the birth of their babies; require that the statement of rights be conspicuously posted in a public place in maternal health care facilities, nurseries, maternity floors, and post-delivery recovery rooms; and require assistance from lactation specialists in the hospital and after discharge.

     This measure was amended by amending the first two whereas clauses to more accurately reflect the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the scientific data regarding the benefits of breastfeeding.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 122, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 122, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services and Public Housing,

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair