lawyer

Georgia enacted a law that begins by clarifying the importance of breastfeeding, and states that a mother has a right to breastfeed in public where she is allowed to be with her baby. Previously, the law required that breastfeeding be conducted in a modest manner which was stricken. Georgia allows, but does not require, employers to accommodate breastfeeding mothers when they return to work.

The breast-feeding of a baby is an important and basic act of nurture which should be encouraged in the interests of maternal and child health. A mother may breast-feed her baby in any location where the mother and baby are otherwise authorized to be.

(a) As used in this Code section, the term employer means any person or entity that employs one or more employees and shall include the state and its political subdivisions.

(b) An employer may provide reasonable unpaid break time each day to an employee who needs to express breast milk for her infant child. The employer may make reasonable efforts to provide a room or other location (in close proximity to the work area), other than a toilet stall, where the employee can express her milk in privacy. The break time shall, if possible, run concurrently with any break time already provided to the employee. An employer is not required to provide break time under this Code section if to do so would unduly disrupt the operations of the employer.