Governor Vetoes Bill Establishing "Mother-Friendly" Workplace Designation
Citing the administrative burden placed on the State Labor Commissioner, Governor Schwarzenegger has announced his veto of Assembly Bill 2468. This bill would have permitted an employer to use the designation “Mother-Friendly Worksite” in its promotional materials, if it submitted its workplace breast-feeding policy to the Labor Commissioner and the Labor Commissioner determined the employer’s policy provided for specified criteria. Also, the bill would have required the Labor Commissioner to post a list of “Mother-Friendly” worksites on its website.
The Governor’s veto message succinctly states:
“Existing California law establishes protections for lactating mothers. This bill would do nothing to augment or improve these existing laws pertaining to a lactating mother’s right to express milk in the workplace. Instead, the bill would create additional responsibility for the Labor Commissioner, without any indication that the new requirements are either warranted or necessary.”
