What's happening
This bill exempts breastfeeding mothers from jury duty or allows them to postpone service for up to two years.
Why it matters
Supports maternal and infant health. by allowing breastfeeding mothers to delay jury service without penalty, reducing stress and helping them maintain their breastfeeding schedules, which is important for both mother and child’s well-being.
Removes barriers to civic participation. by ensuring that breastfeeding mothers are not forced to choose between their child’s nutritional needs and fulfilling civic duties, making the jury selection process more inclusive.
Provides clear procedural guidance. for courts and mothers, requiring only a physician’s note to qualify, and offering flexibility of up to two years for postponement, which brings predictability and transparency to the process.
Addresses gender equity. by recognizing the unique needs of breastfeeding women, potentially encouraging more women to serve on juries at times that are appropriate for them, and promoting fairness in public obligations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Exempt Breastfeeding Women from Jury
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- Amended 4442b
- 2nd report cal.
- Amended 4442a
- 1st report cal.1127
- Referred to judiciary
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Breastfeeding Moms Excused Jury Duty
In Assembly Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Marcos Crespo
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4442--B Cal. No. 1127
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 15, 2017
Introduced by Sens. MONTGOMERY, COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary -reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first report, amended on first report, ordered to a second report and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of second report -reported favorably from said committee, amended on second report, ordered to a third reading, and to be reprinted as amended, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the judiciary law, in relation to providing an exemption from jury duty for breastfeeding women
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs 1 and 2 of subdivision (a) of section 517 of the judiciary law, paragraph 1 as amended and paragraph 2 as added by chapter 86 of the laws of 1995, are amended to read as follows:
(1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph two of this subdivision, the commissioner of jurors may, in his or her discretion, on the application of a prospective juror who has been summoned to attend, excuse such prospective juror from a part or the whole of the time of jury service or may postpone the time of jury service to a later day during the same or any subsequent term of the court, provided that if the prospective juror is a breastfeeding mother and submits with her application a note from a physician indicating that the prospective juror is breastfeeding, the commissioner shall excuse the prospective juror or postpone the time of jury service. The application shall be presented to the commissioner at such time and in such manner as he or she shall require, except that an application for postponement of the initial date for jury service may be made by telephone.
(2) An application for postponement of jury service shall be granted hereunder provided: (i) such service has not already been postponed or excused, (ii) the application is made at such time and in such manner as
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07994-05-7
S. 4442--B 2
the commissioner of jurors requires, and (iii) the postponement is to a date certain when the court is in session not more than six months after the date on which such service otherwise is to commence and such date is selected by the prospective juror, provided that if the prospective juror is a breastfeeding mother, the postponement date may be a date certain up to two years after the date on which such service otherwise is to commence.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the judiciary law, in relation to providing an exemption from jury duty for breastfeeding women
Purpose or general idea of bill
Provides exemption from jury duty for breastfeeding women.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Paragraph 2 of subdivision a of section 517 of the judiciary law, as added by chapter 86 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
(2) An application for postponement of jury service shall be granted hereunder provided: (i) such service has not already been postponed or excused, (ii) the application is made at such time and in such manor as the commissioner of jurors requires, {and} (iii) the postponement is to a date certain when the court is in session not more than six months after the date on which such service otherwise is to commence and such date is selected by the prospective juror, and (iv) the prospective juror is a breastfeeding mother. In order to grant an application for postponement of jury service, the prospective juror must submit a note from a physician
Justification
Jury duty exerts its demands on all who are called to serve, including women who are breastfeeding their infants. In an effort to protect the health the child, it is imperative that a mechanism is created that allows a physician to explain why an excuse from jury duty should be accepted and facilitated.
Many women have decided to breastfeed their infants as a matter of promoting better health of their new-born based on the undeniable evidence which shows breastfeeding as superior nutrition for the development of the infant's brain and immune system. Jury duty interferes with these efforts at a critical time in the development of a child's cognitive and cerebral formation. No form of public service should override a mother's primary responsibility and care of her infant child.
This legislation provides breastfeeding mothers with the ability to be excused from jury duty per the written notice by a physician supporting the reason for excuse. This legislation is a common sense approach to helping mother and child at a critical time.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.