Nursing mothers could be excused from jury duty under legislation given initial approval by the Missouri Senate.
A bill endorsed Monday would expand protections in Missouri law that already allow mothers to discreetly breast-feed in public places. The bill adds expressing breast milk to the list of protected activities and prohibits cities from enacting local ordinances restricting breast-feeding mothers.
Under the legislation, nursing mothers would be excused from jury duty upon submitting a written note from a doctor.
The bill is sponsored by Republican Senator Rob Schaaf, a physician from St. Joseph. He cited research showing breast-fed babies are healthier, thus lowering the state's potential medical costs for their care.
