Supporting Working Mothers Act

To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for certain accommodations for breastfeeding in the workplace, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Supporting Working Mothers Act 2. Breastfeeding accommodations in the workplace The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 201 et seq. (1) In section 7, by striking subsection (r). (2) By inserting after section 18C the following: 18D. Breastfeeding accommodations in the workplace (a) An employer shall provide— (1) a reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for such employee’s nursing child for 1 year after the child’s birth each time such employee has need to express the milk; and (2) a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk. (b) (1) Subject to paragraph (2), an employer shall not be required to compensate an employee receiving break time under subsection (a)(1) for any time spent during the workday for such purpose. (2) Break time provided under subsection (a)(1) shall be considered hours worked if the employer requires the employee to engage actively in work activities during that time, and then only to the extent of the time spent on such activities. (c) An employer that employs less than 50 employees shall not be subject to the requirements of this section, if such requirements would impose an undue hardship by causing the employer significant difficulty or expense when considered in relation to the size, financial resources, nature, or structure of the employer’s business. (d) Nothing in this section shall preempt a State law or municipal ordinance that provides greater protections to employees than the protections provided for under this section. (e) In the case that an employer receives notice that the employer is not in compliance with subsection (a), the employer shall be deemed not to have violated such subsection if the employer rectifies such violation not later than 30 days after the date on which the employer receives such notice. . (3) In section 13— (A) in subsection (a)— (i) by striking of sections 6 (except and 7 shall of sections 6, 7, and 18D (except sections 6(d) and 18D in the case of paragraph (1) of this subsection) shall (ii) in paragraph (3), by striking and 7 7, and 18D (B) in subsection (b), by striking section 7 sections 7 and 18D (C) in subsection (d), by inserting 18D 7, (D) in subsection (e), by striking section 7 sections 7 and 18D (E) in subsection (f), by inserting 18D 7, (F) in subsection (h)— (i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking section 7 sections 7 and 18D (ii) in the matter following paragraph (2), by striking or section 7 , section 7, or section 18D (G) in subsection (i), by striking section 7 sections 7 and 18D (H) in subsection (j), by striking section 7 sections 7 and 18D (4) In section 15(a)— (A) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (5) and inserting ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (6) to violate any of the provisions of section 18D. . (5) In section 16— (A) by striking section 6 or section 7 sections 6, 7, or 18D (B) by striking 6 or 7 6, 7, or 18D (C) by striking 6 and 7 6, 7, and 18D 3. Effective date The amendments made under this Act shall take effect on the date that is 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 4. GAO report to Congress Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment, the Government Accountability Office shall issue a report to Congress evaluating the implementation and expansion of workplace accommodations for nursing mothers under this Act, with a focus on assessing— (1) the number of working mothers, both before and after the Act’s implementation, with access to nursing accommodations; (2) the types of nursing accommodations covered employers have implemented; (3) the factors employers consider when making decisions on the expansion of nursing accommodations and the industries that face the most significant challenges in providing them; and (4) actions taken by the Secretary of Labor to enforce the provisions of this Act.

Summary: Supporting Working Mothers Act This bill extends protections for a working mother who expresses breast milk for the employee's nursing child to cover salaried employees and other types of workers not covered under existing law. Further, time spent to express breast milk must be considered hours worked if the nursing mother is also working. The Government Accountability Office must report on the implementation and expansion of the workplace accommodations under this bill.