GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

H	2 

HOUSE BILL 821
Committee Substitute Favorable 5/10/95

Short Title:  Encourage Breast Feeding.	(Public)

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Sponsors:

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Referred to: 

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April 11, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO INCLUDE ENCOURAGEMENT OF BREAST FEEDING IN SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE STATE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH PROGRAM.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 130A-124 reads as rewritten:
"§ 130A-124.  Department to establish maternal and child health program.
(a)	The Department shall establish and administer a maternal and child health program for the delivery of preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic and habilitative health services to women of childbearing years, children and other persons who require these services.  The program shall include, but shall not be limited to, providing professional education and consultation, community coordination and direct care and counseling, and services that support and encourage breast feeding.
(a1)	The Department shall develop and establish written policies supporting breast-feeding practices for the public sector workplace which address the following:
(1)	Work schedule flexibility, including scheduling of breaks and work patterns to allow time for milk expression; and
(2)	Provision of accessible locations that permit privacy and allow access to a nearby clean, safe water source and sink for washing hands and breast-pumping equipment.
(b)	The Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section.
(c)	Prior year refunds received by the Children's Special Health Services Program that are not encumbered or spent during a fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund but shall remain in the Department for purchase of care and contracts in the Program.  Funds appropriated for the purchase of care and contracts in the Program that are encumbered and not spent during a fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund but shall remain in the Department for the purchase of care and contracts in the Program."
Sec. 2.  G.S. 130A-361(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	The Department shall establish and administer a nutrition program to promote the public health by achieving and maintaining optimal nutritional status in the population through activities such as nutrition screening and assessment; dietary counseling and treatment; nutrition education; follow-up; referral; development and distribution of education materials supporting the initiation and duration of breast feeding; and the direct provision of food. The program may also include, but shall not be limited to, establishing policies and standards for nutritional practices; monitoring and surveillance of nutritional status; promoting interagency cooperation, professional education and consultation; providing technical assistance; conducting and supporting field research; providing direct care; and advising State and private institutions and other State and local agencies and departments in the establishment of food, nutrition and food service management standards."
Sec. 3.  This act is effective upon ratification.