Florida's Breastfeeding Legislation

Florida led the nation by enacting the first comprehensive breastfeeding legislation in the United States. The legislation not only exempted breastfeeding from criminal statutes, but created a new law that stated this important and basic act of nurture must be encouraged in the interests of maternal and child health. Finally, it provides for a breast-feeding encouragement policy for facilities providing maternity services and newborn infant care.

Fla. Stat. Ann. § 383.015
1993 Fl. ALS 4; 1993 Fla. Laws ch. 4; 1993 Fla. HB 231
The breast feeding of a baby is an important and basic act of nurture which must be encouraged in the interests of maternal and child health and family values. A mother may breast feed her baby in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether or not the nipple of the mother's breast is covered during or incidental to the breast feeding.

Fla. Stat. 800.02, 800.03, 800.04
Statute language omitted. These statutes exclude breastfeeding from various sexual offenses, from the definition of an unnatural and lascivious act.

Fla. Stat. § 827.071 (Child abuse statute)
(g) "Sexual conduct" means ... A mother’s breastfeeding of her baby does not under any circumstances constitute "sexual conduct."

Fla .Stat. §383.016, , 383.016, 383.311, and 363.318
Section 383.016 of the Florida Statutes, provides for a breast-feeding encouragement policy for facilities providing maternity services and newborn infant care and authorizing use of "baby-friendly" designation. Sections 383.016, 383.311, and 363.318 of the Florida Statutes relating to breast feeding, administration of maternal and child health programs, education for birth center clients, and postpartum care for birth center clients, requiring encouragement of breastfeeding.