740 ILCS 137/ Right to Breastfeed Act. - Illinois Statutes

(740 ILCS 137/1)     Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Right to Breastfeed Act. (Source: P.A. 93‑942, eff. 8‑16‑04.)

(740 ILCS 137/5)     Sec. 5. Purpose. The General Assembly finds that breast milk offers better nutrition, immunity, and digestion, and may raise a baby's IQ, and that breastfeeding offers other benefits such as improved mother‑baby bonding, and its encouragement has been established as a major goal of this decade by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund. The General Assembly finds and declares that the Surgeon General of the United States recommends that babies be fed breastmilk, unless medically contraindicated, in order to attain an optimal healthy start. (Source: P.A. 93‑942, eff. 8‑16‑04.)

(740 ILCS 137/10)     Sec. 10. Breastfeeding Location. A mother may breastfeed her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breastfeeding; however, a mother considering whether to breastfeed her baby in a place of worship shall comport her behavior with the norms appropriate in that place of worship. (Source: P.A. 93‑942, eff. 8‑16‑04.)

(740 ILCS 137/15)     Sec. 15. Private right of action. A woman who has been denied the right to breastfeed by the owner or manager of a public or private location, other than a private residence or place of worship, may bring an action to enjoin future denials of the right to breastfeed. If the woman prevails in her suit, she shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and reasonable expenses of litigation. (Source: P.A. 93‑942, eff. 8‑16‑04.)

(740 ILCS 137/99)     Sec. 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law. (Source: P.A. 93‑942, eff. 8‑16‑04.)