Colorado employers would be required to provide breaks for breast-feeding mothers to pump milk at work, under a bill approved Wednesday by a Senate committee.
The bill would mandate that all businesses provide two 10-minute breaks – or longer if approved by the employer – and a space for a mother to express milk. The Senate State Affairs committee voted 5-2 to send the bill to the full Senate for review.
“Working breast-feeding mothers are the true heroines of our society,” said Sen. Deanna Hanna, D-Lakewood, sponsor of Senate Bill 167.
Three new mothers – including one who breast-fed her baby in the hearing room – called for the senators to support the bill.
“Colorado’s working mothers shouldn’t have to choose between their responsibility for their children’s health and their responsibility to their family’s finances,” said Caryl Soeth of Westminster, who cradled her 6-month old son, Jack, during the testimony. Soeth said her employer is going out of business and she’s worried that any potential new employer could deny her the time and space to pump milk during her workday.
Representatives from two business groups – the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry and the state chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses – said the bill would place an undue burden on many employers.
Donnah Moody, director of government affairs for CACI, said the bill is “bringing to the public policy arena an issue that belongs between the employee and employer.”
Sen. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, asked Hanna how employers would be punished if they fail to comply with the law.
“There are no penalties, and I cannot answer that question,” Hanna said.
Lamborn said employers deserve to know how the bill would be enforced and that lawmakers should know the cost of enforcing the bill.
“You make it hard for us to vote on this issue,” Lamborn said. “That’s kind of the crux of the whole issue.”
Lamborn and Sen. Ron May, R-Colorado Springs, voted no.
Staff writer Mark P. Couch can be reached at 303-820-1794 or mcouch@denverpost.com.
