New Jersey schools are asked to have the appropriate member of its staff/administration complete the 2023 Survey on Lactation-Related Policies, so that the New Jersey Department of Education can compile the necessary data to prepare its annual report on lactation-related policies, which it must submit to the governor and to the Legislature.
On August 15, 2019, Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation (P.L. 2019, c. 242) requiring certain public facilities and offices to provide on-site lactation rooms for nursing mothers. The legislation additionally requires the New Jersey Department of Health to provide information about the availability of lactation rooms, and the New Jersey Department of Education to provide information on lactation-related policies in New Jersey’s schools, colleges and universities.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 26:4C-3, the NJDOE is required to evaluate and to report “on the lactation-related policies that have been implemented at schools, colleges, and universities in the State.” More specifically, each report submitted to the governor and to the Legislature shall:
- Summarize the applicable policies in this area.
- Indicate the number and percentage of policies that authorize access to a designated lactation room.
- Indicate the manner in which such policies were communicated to students, parents and guardians during the preceding school year.
Key Deadlines
- March 31, 2023: Deadline for all New Jersey schools to complete the 2023 Survey on Lactation-Related Policies.
- Aug. 1, 2023: Deadline for the NJDOE to submit its “2023 Report on Lactation-Related Policies in New Jersey Schools, Colleges and Universities” to the governor, and to post its report on the NJDOE’s website.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kathryn A. Whalen with the NJDOE at 609-376-9115, or via email.