Bill Would Excuse Breastfeeding Women From Jury Duty
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) – Breastfeeding women called to jury duty may soon have a valid excuse to pass on their civic duty.
Under a new measure (SB556), proposed Thursday by Senator Geraldine Thompson, a woman will be excused from jury service for one year following the birth of a child and to seek additional one-year exemptions as long as she continues to breastfeed her child.
Rep. Richard Stark filed a similar measure (HB 335) on Monday.
Under current state law, people are excused from jury duty if they can show hardships, extreme inconvenience or public necessity.
Florida law also allows expectant mothers, parents who are not employed full time and have custody of children up to the age of six and those who care for people with mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities to be excused from jury duty.
Also, anyone 70 or older can request to be exempt.
"The News Service of Florida contributed to this report."
