Florida Senate - 2023                                     SB 144
       
       
        
       By Senator Berman
       
       
       
       
       
       26-00040-23                                            2023144__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to lactation spaces; creating s.
    3         29.24, F.S.; requiring each county courthouse to
    4         provide at least one lactation space for members of
    5         the public by a specified date; providing requirements
    6         for such lactation space; authorizing the use of state
    7         or private funds to provide lactation spaces in
    8         appellate courthouses; providing exceptions; declaring
    9         that this act fulfills an important state interest;
   10         providing an effective date.
   11          
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Section 29.24, Florida Statutes, is created to
   15  read:
   16         29.24 Lactation spaces in courthouses.—
   17         (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, by
   18  January 1, 2024, each county courthouse must provide at least
   19  one dedicated lactation space for members of the public to
   20  express breast milk or breastfeed in private outside of the
   21  confines of a restroom. The space must be hygienic, be shielded
   22  from public view, be free from intrusion while occupied, and
   23  contain an electrical outlet.
   24         (2) The person responsible for the operation of the
   25  facility housing each district court of appeal may use state
   26  appropriated funds or private funding to provide a lactation
   27  space as set forth in subsection (1).
   28         (3) The requirements of subsection (1) do not apply to a
   29  courthouse if the person responsible for the operation of the
   30  courthouse determines that:
   31         (a) The courthouse does not contain a lactation space for
   32  employees which may be used by the members of the public, and
   33  the courthouse does not have:
   34         1. A space that could be repurposed as a lactation space
   35  open to the public; or
   36         2. A space that could be made private at a reasonable cost
   37  using portable materials, contingent upon private funding being
   38  made available for those costs.
   39         (b) New construction would be required to create the
   40  lactation space.
   41         Section 2. The Legislature finds that this act fulfills an
   42  important state interest.
   43         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.