A Current Summary of Breastfeeding Legislation in the U.S.

SUMMARY OF ENACTED BREASTFEEDING LEGISLATION

ALASKA

Alaska enacted legislation in 1998 that clarifies a woman breastfeeding a child in public is not a violation of their criminal statutes. The law also prohibits any municipality from enacting a law that prohibits or restricts the right of a mother to breastfeed.

Alaska Stat. § 01.10.060(b), § 29.25.080
1998 AK. ALS 78; 1998 AK. Sess. Laws 78; 1998 AK. Ch. 78; 1997 AK. SB 297

Sec. 01.10.060 (b) In the laws of the state, 'lewd conduct,' 'lewd touching,' 'immoral conduct,' 'indecent conduct,' and similar terms do not include the act of a woman breast-feeding a child in a public or private location where the woman and child are otherwise authorized to be. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to authorize an act that is an offense under AS 11.61.123.

Sec. 29.25.080. Breast-feeding. A municipality may not enact an ordinance that prohibits or restricts a woman breast-feeding a child in a public or private location where the woman and child are otherwise authorized to be. In a municipal ordinance, 'lewd conduct,' 'lewd touching,' 'immoral conduct,' 'indecent conduct,' and similar terms do not include the act of a woman breast-feeding a child in a public or private location where the woman and child are otherwise authorized to be. Nothing in this section may be construed to authorize an act that is an offense under a municipal ordinance that establishes an offense with elements substantially equivalent to the elements of an offense under AS 11.61.123. This section is applicable to home rule and general law municipalities.

Last updated Saturday, July 29, 2006 9:17 AM by sjs.

Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:33:13 UTC 2007.