Senator Montgomery and Assemblyman Crespo's Bill Regarding Jury Duty Exemption for Breastfeeding Women Passes Both Houses (S. 748 and A. 5424)
This week the New York State Senate and Assembly passed legislation that provides breastfeeding women an exemption from jury duty. The legislation will allow women choosing to breastfeed their infant the ability to postpone their call to jury service up to two years.
“Many women have decided to breast feed their infants,” said Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo. “This bill will allow mothers and their families to postpone a call to jury duty in order to ensure the health of their newborn. I am honored to have carried this bill for several years. Thank you to Senator Montgomery and the Senate and to the Speaker and my colleagues in the Assembly.”
Jury duty is an integral part of our justice system. However, if a woman choosing to breastfeed her infant is summoned to jury duty, it is during a critical time in the development of a child's cognitive and cerebral formation. This legislation provides new mothers with both the choice and ability to be excused from jury duty per the written notice by a physician.
This legislation is a common sense approach to ensuring the health and safety of mothers, newborns, and families throughout New York State.
