$200 Fine For Harassing Breastfeeding Mothers

Proposed Bill Now Before Legislature

Posted: 7:42 pm CDT October 9, 2005Updated: 9:00 pm CDT October 9, 2005

Asking a breastfeeding mother to "cover-up" could soon cost you $200.

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That’s according to a proposed bill by state Sen. Fred Risser, which protects mothers who breastfeed in public from being harassed.

Under Wisconsin law it is perfectly legal for a woman to breastfeed her child in a public place.

But while the state law may be behind the mother, the public isn’t always behind the law.

Michelle Morgan said she has run into problems trying to breastfeed her son Ian in public.

"A woman basically said to me that I should probably go somewhere else or make sure that I stayed covered up," said Morgan. "It made me pretty angry."

"It’s usually quite innocent," said La Leche League leader Laurel Franczek. "The person who’s asking that doesn’t realize that women already have the right to breastfeed wherever they are."

Clearing up the confusion about breastfeeding in public is the inspiration for the bill, which is now in front of the state legislature.

It reinforces current law by slapping future harassers with a $200 fine.

"It is necessary to make clear to those few places in the state that do not accept the law or permit it, that this is the policy of the state of Wisconsin," said Risser.

It's a law Morgan says will give her a little extra firepower if she's asked to cover-up again.

"I have the right and the protection to say that I'm legally able to be in this space, and that I'm legally able to nurse my child and you can't tell me otherwise," said Morgan.

Risser says 30 other states have similar protections for public breastfeeding.

The bill has been refereed to the committee on health, children and families.

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