Bill Text: MN SF2000 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Employer duties for nursing mothers accommodations expansion and enforcement requirements
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-17 - Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Finance [SF2000 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-SF2000-Engrossed.html
1.2relating to employment; imposing duties on employers related to employees who
1.3are nursing mothers; providing for enforcement;amending Minnesota Statutes
1.42012, section 181.939.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 181.939, is amended to read:
1.7181.939 NURSING MOTHERS.
1.8 Subdivision 1. Employer duties. (a) An employer must provide reasonable unpaid
1.9break time each day to an employee who needs to express breast milk for her infant child.
1.10The break time must, if possible, run concurrently with any break time already provided to
1.11the employee. An employer is not required to provide break time under this section if to
1.12do so would unduly disrupt the operations of the employer.
1.13(b) The employer must make reasonable efforts to provide a room or other location,
1.14in close proximity to the work area, other than a bathroom or a toilet stall, that is shielded
1.15from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public and that includes access
1.16to an electrical outlet, where the employee can express her milk in privacy. The employer
1.17would be held harmless if reasonable effort has been made.
1.18(c) For the purposes of this section, "employer" means a person or entity that
1.19employs one or more employees and includes the state and its political subdivisions.
1.20(d) An employer may not retaliate against an employee for asserting rights or
1.21remedies under this section.
1.22 Subd. 2. Enforcement. The Department of Labor and Industry shall enforce this
1.23section. The department shall assess a fine of up to $1,000 for a first violation and up to
1.24$2,000 for a second and subsequent violations of this section. A fine shall be assessed
2.1only if an employer fails to remedy a violation within 15 days of written notice of a
2.2violation from the department.
1.3are nursing mothers; providing for enforcement;amending Minnesota Statutes
1.42012, section 181.939.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 181.939, is amended to read:
1.7181.939 NURSING MOTHERS.
1.8 Subdivision 1. Employer duties. (a) An employer must provide reasonable unpaid
1.9break time each day to an employee who needs to express breast milk for her infant child.
1.10The break time must, if possible, run concurrently with any break time already provided to
1.11the employee. An employer is not required to provide break time under this section if to
1.12do so would unduly disrupt the operations of the employer.
1.13(b) The employer must make reasonable efforts to provide a room or other location,
1.14in close proximity to the work area, other than a bathroom or a toilet stall, that is shielded
1.15from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public and that includes access
1.16to an electrical outlet, where the employee can express her milk in privacy. The employer
1.17would be held harmless if reasonable effort has been made.
1.18(c) For the purposes of this section, "employer" means a person or entity that
1.19employs one or more employees and includes the state and its political subdivisions.
1.20(d) An employer may not retaliate against an employee for asserting rights or
1.21remedies under this section.
1.22 Subd. 2. Enforcement. The Department of Labor and Industry shall enforce this
1.23section. The department shall assess a fine of up to $1,000 for a first violation and up to
1.24$2,000 for a second and subsequent violations of this section. A fine shall be assessed
2.1only if an employer fails to remedy a violation within 15 days of written notice of a
2.2violation from the department.
