County jails: infant and toddler breast milk feeding policy.

Existing law places a county jail under the jurisdiction of the sheriff of the county. Existing law requires the Board of State and Community Corrections to establish minimum standards for local correctional facilities governing, among other things, prenatal and postpartum information and health care, and information pertaining to childbirth and infant care, for pregnant inmates in those facilities. This bill would require, on or before January 1, 2020, a county sheriff or the administrator of a county jail to develop and implement an infant and toddler breast milk feeding policy for lactating inmates detained in or sentenced to a county jail that is based on currently accepted best practices. The bill would require the policy to include provisions for, among other things, procedures for providing medically appropriate support and care related to the cessation of lactation or weaning and for conditioning an inmate's participation in the program upon the inmate undergoing drug screening. The bill would require the policy to be posted in the jail, as specified, and to be communicated to all staff persons who interact with or oversee pregnant or lactating inmates. By imposing a higher level of service on county employees, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.