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Bill

S 2666

Relates to the provision of breast pumps to certain incarcerated birth parents and allowing children to remain with their incarcerated birth parent for a period of time

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pete Harckham and 4 co-sponsors

The bill would require correctional facilities to provide breast pumps and lactation support to eligible incarcerated birth parents and allow a temporary mother–infant stay with th

REFERRED TO CORRECTION
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 2666

Summary — S 2666

Title (as provided): Relates to the provision of breast pumps to certain incarcerated birth parents and allowing children to remain with their incarcerated birth parent for a period of time

Note: The materials supplied include multiple, conflicting text excerpts (a Massachusetts proclamation creating “Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day,” a New Jersey insurance/mammogram amendment, and corrupted PDF content). The sponsor and action lists also appear to mix jurisdictions. The summary below is based on the bill title and the legislative-action entries that reference correctional committees. Where the bill text or concrete provisions were not available, I note that and avoid inventing specifics.

Purpose and intent

S 2666, as described by its title, would create policies to support breastfeeding among incarcerated birth parents by:
- requiring (or authorizing) correctional facilities to provide breast pumps and related lactation supports to eligible incarcerated parents; and
- allowing children to remain with their incarcerated birth parent in the facility for a defined period after birth (a short-term mother–infant stay), subject to safety and program criteria.

The aim is to promote infant nutrition and parent–infant bonding, support lactation and maternal health, and reduce disruption to early caregiving for infants of incarcerated parents.

Key provisions (inferred / typical elements)

The actual bill text was not included in the materials provided. Typical provisions such a bill would include — and which you should confirm against the official text — are:

  • Breast pump access

    • Facilities must provide breast pumps (manual and/or electric) to eligible postpartum incarcerated parents.
    • Procedures for sanitizing, storing and maintaining pumps and expressing/handling breastmilk.
    • Access to lactation counseling or education (e.g., nursing staff, telehealth, or community providers).

  • Milk expression and transfer

    • Policies to allow expressed breastmilk to be stored and released to a designated caregiver outside the facility (or provided to the child if housed with the parent).
    • Safety and screening protocols for handling and releasing milk.

  • Mother–infant cohabitation period

    • Authorization for children to remain with their incarcerated birth parent for a specified period (text supplied only says “for a period of time” — exact duration and eligibility criteria absent).
    • Eligibility criteria (e.g., nature of offense, behavioral record, health assessments, child welfare clearance).
    • Program requirements: supervised housing, parenting supports, health care for mother and child, and case planning for post-release placement.

  • Administrative and reporting requirements

    • Mandates for corrections departments to develop policies, staff training, and recordkeeping.
    • Possible reporting to the legislature or an oversight body on program uptake and outcomes.

  • Funding and liability

    • The bill may specify whether the department bears costs, whether grants or appropriations are required, and liability protections for participating staff/facilities.

Who is affected

  • Incarcerated birth parents (postpartum and breastfeeding individuals).
  • Infants of incarcerated parents and their outside caregivers (who may receive expressed milk or placement responsibility).
  • Correctional institutions (operations, housing, health care units) — policy, training, storage and staffing impacts.
  • Child welfare and public health systems that coordinate placements and medical care.
  • State/local budgets if additional funding or staff is required.

Procedural status and timeline (from provided actions)

  • Introduced: 2025-08-01 (per the header).
  • Current status (per provided data): Referred to Corrections (noted as “REFERRED TO CORRECTION”).
  • Other entries in the record appear inconsistent or from other measures (committee names and dates are mixed). Several hearing dates, referrals, and committee reports are listed, but they appear to combine multiple bills across jurisdictions.
  • Recommendation: Verify the bill number and jurisdiction with the official legislative website to obtain the exact current status and the full text.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Positive public-health effects: improved infant nutrition and maternal lactation outcomes; potential bonding and reduction in trauma from immediate postnatal separation.
  • Operational challenges for corrections: need for storage facilities, sanitation protocols, staff training, and monitoring.
  • Legal and child-welfare issues: eligibility screening, coordination with child protective services, and ensuring infant safety.
  • Fiscal impacts: depends on whether the bill requires state appropriations or can be implemented within existing correctional budgets.

Notes / next steps

  • The supplied packet included unrelated and corrupted documents. To produce a precise, clause-by-clause summary (including duration of mother–infant stays, eligibility, funding amounts, and enforcement mechanisms), please provide the official bill text or a link to the legislature’s bill page for S 2666 in the relevant jurisdiction.
  • If you want, I can: (a) draft a concise legislative memo listing recommended provisions to include in such a bill, or (b) produce a redline-style checklist to compare against the official text once provided.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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