New law requires lactation rooms at some city agencies

Mayor Bill de Blasio signed off on a new law Thursday that requires certain city agencies to provide rooms for nursing mothers. The law requires lactation rooms be available at city agencies like the

News 12 Staff

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Aug 12, 2016, 5:18 AM

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Updated 3,058 days ago

Mayor Bill de Blasio signed off on a new law Thursday that requires certain city agencies to provide rooms for nursing mothers.

The law requires lactation rooms be available at city agencies like the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Administration for Children's Services and the Department of Social Services.

The law will create a network of locations around the city where women will be able to walk in and nurse their baby.

"This law today will help us to go farther to provide the respect and the embrace and the support so no women will ever feel shame," Mayor de Blasio says.

To make the room more ideal, officials say the rooms must be outfitted with an electric outlet, access to running water and it cannot be a bathroom.

The law is designed to improve public health and support gender equality.

The city agencies have until next July to make these lactation rooms available for use.

Moving forward, local leaders say they hope to expand the law to include the Department of Education and CUNY buildings as well.