BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3135

By: Shelton

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There is a concern that school districts are not currently allowed to provide break time for an educator to express breast milk during the work day. Interested parties contend that such a break would reduce the stress on an educator who needs to express breast milk, and the parties further note that legislation is necessary to give school districts the authority to decide appropriate break intervals for an educator.  H.B. 3135 seeks to provide reasonable break times and facilities for school district educators expressing breast milk.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3135 amends the Education Code to require a school district to provide a reasonable amount of break time at appropriate intervals to accommodate an educator desiring to express breast milk for a child of the educator who is under one year of age and to provide a room or other location in close proximity to the educator's work area, other than a toilet stall or restroom, with an accessible electrical outlet and a locking door where the educator can express breast milk in private. The bill makes its provisions applicable beginning with the 2011-2012 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.