BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1041

By: Walle

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Studies have shown that breastfeeding provides both immediate and long-term health benefits to babies and nursing mothers, and it has been noted that breastfeeding in the workplace prevents employee absenteeism, which in turn may improve workplace morale and productivity. While public employers must provide a place other than a multiple-user bathroom for breastfeeding purposes, there are concerns that the increased viral presence associated with flushing toilets in any type of bathroom in close proximity to a woman expressing breast milk may endanger the health of infants. H.B. 1041 seeks to address these concerns by disqualifying any restroom as an acceptable place for employees to express breast milk.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 1041 amends the Government Code to change from a multiple user bathroom to any bathroom the types of bathrooms explicitly disqualified as a place a public employer may provide to an employee to express breast milk to satisfy the applicable requirement.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.