Policies We're Watching Related to MCH

SB 393 / AB 801: Restrict Shackling of and Improve Maternal Health Supports for Pregnant Women Who are Incarcerated 
Description: This bill would move Wisconsin policies to better conform to best practices to prohibit or restrict the shackling pregnant women who are incarcerated. The bill also provides for maternal support services which have been shown to reduce the need for costly medical interventions such as Cesarean sections. Additionally, the bill expands screening for STIs, which can prevent mother-to-child transmissions through early detection and treatment. 
Authors: Rep. Lisa Subeck & Sen. Lena Taylor

Status: Passed Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety 5-0.  Referred to Assembly Committee on Corrections.  Failed to pass before the end of the 2017-2018 session.

WAWH Position: Support

Background: Copy of WAWH Testimony
 SB 147 / AB 193: Workplace Accommodations for Breastfeeding Moms
Description: This bill would: (1) Enshrine the Affordable Care Act’s workplace breastfeeding protections into Wisconsin law; (2) require an employer to provide employees with access to an electrical outlet, running water, and a refrigerator for the storage of breast milk; (3) exempt employers with less than 50 employees from the first two provisions if the employer could demonstrate that complying with these provisions would create an undue business hardship; and, (4) require that if an employee receives employer-sponsored health care benefits that are dependent on the number of hours worked by the employee, the employer must treat any unpaid break time taken by the employee to express breast milk as paid work time for purposes of determining that eligibility.
Authors: Rep. Subeck & Sen. Johnson

Status: Referred to Assembly Committee on Small Business Development and Senate Committee on Health and Human Services

WAWH Position: Support

Background: See WAWH's Proactive Policy Prescription for more information about why workplace breastfeeding accommodations is an important women's health and employment issue.