Existing law requires each public body in this State to provide an employee who is the mother of a child under 1 year of age with a place, other than a bathroom, that is reasonably free from dirt or pollution, protected from the view of others and free from intrusion by others where the employee may express breast milk. (NRS 281.755) Existing federal law requires, with certain exceptions, that federal buildings, including, without limitation, federal courthouses, contain a lactation room that is made available for use by members of the public to express breast milk. (40 U.S.C. § 3318) Section 1 of this bill enacts provisions based on this federal law to require each courthouse to contain a lactation room that may be used by members of the public to express breast milk. Section 1 provides an exception to the requirement if the person who is responsible for the operation of the courthouse determines that: (1) the courthouse does not contain a lactation room for employees; (2) the courthouse does not have a room or other space that could be repurposed or privatized as a lactation room; or (3) new construction would be required to provide the lactation room and the cost of the construction is unfeasible. Section 1 defines “lactation room” as a hygienic place, other than a bathroom, that: (1) is shielded from view; (2) is free from intrusion; and (3) contains a chair, a working surface and an electrical outlet. Additionally, section 1 defines “courthouse” as any building or campus which houses one or more courts.
Section 1.5 of this bill makes an appropriation from the State General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts for allocation as grants to municipal courts, justice courts and district courts for the costs of complying with section 1.