HCS HB 1100 -- JURY DUTY

SPONSOR:  Pratt (Schaaf)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Judiciary by a vote of 13 to 0.

This substitute exempts from jury duty any woman who is
breastfeeding.  The woman must provide a written statement to the
court certifying that she is actually breastfeeding and
requesting that she be excused.

The substitute also disqualifies licensed attorneys from jury
service.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and
FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will allow
breastfeeding mothers to postpone their jury service during the
time they are breastfeeding.  Nursing mothers do not feed their
infants on a regular schedule.  If nursing mothers are forced to
withhold feeding for long periods during jury service, the risk
of infection to the nursing mother increases.  Since some
children will not take artificial nipples, those infants will be
more susceptible to sickness when their mothers are serving on a
jury.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Schaaf; Dr. Melissa
Plum; and Dacia Rocco.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Alex Curchin, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:42 am