Kentucky's Current Family Friendly Jury Duty Initiative
Family Friendly Jury Duty was introduced in BOTH the Kentucky House and the Kentucky Senate for the 2007 Session, as House Bill 241, sponsored by Rep. Susan Westrom (D- Lexington), and Senate Bill 111, sponsored by Sen. Tom Buford (R-Jessamine) and Sen. Alice Forgy Kerr (R-Lexington).
Both of these bills Amend KRS 29A.100 to require a judge to excuse a mother who is breast-feeding a child or expressing breast milk for a child from jury service until the mother is no longer breast-feeding the child or expressing breast milk for the child.
Update!
On March 12, 2007, Senate Bill 111 passed the KY House of
Representatives 98 - 0.
Previously the bill had passed the KY Senate unanimously on Feb. 27, 2007.
The bill will now go to Governor Fletcher for his signature. After the
Governor signs the bill, it will become law in Kentucky.
We are thrilled that Kentucky has adopted
family friendly jury duty legislation that protects breastfeeding mothers
and their babies. However, there are other citizens in Kentucky who could also
benefit from family friendly jury duty legislation -- those who are parents/guardians caring for a young child, or caregivers of an elderly or disabled relative.
Many of these citizens
have
been forced to serve on a jury, despite their essential obligations to their
families. While there are Kentucky courts that do accommodate these
citizens, others do not since there is no standard policy which addresses
the special needs of these jurors.
How can you help?
Please follow these guidelines to help enact Family Friendly Jury Duty for
family caregivers in Kentucky.
Thanks for your support!
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(To review the history of Kentucky’s Family Friendly Jury Duty initiative,
Click here)
Last updated Tuesday April 03, 2007
