The Alabama Senate Committee on Judiciary on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill that would exempt nursing mothers from jury duty for up to two years.

SB76, now amended to be known as Parker’s Law, was brought forth by Sen. April Weaver, R-Brierfield, to codify what was established by a recent administrative order passed down from the Alabama Supreme Court which states “that a nursing mother of an infant child clearly qualifies for the excuse from jury service” under state judicial code.

This order came in response to claims from several Alabama mothers that they were harassed and threatened by Jefferson County judges for bringing breastfeeding babies with them for jury duty.

Kandace Brown, who says she was threatened with DHR for bringing her three-month-old daughter Parker with her to jury duty, said at the committee meeting today that she called and turned in forms to be excused prior to reporting to the courthouse but was refused.

She added that as recently as this week, she had received calls from nursing mothers who were going to be made to serve on a jury in Jefferson County.

Under SB76, if a mother can provide to the court a written statement from a health care professional certifying that she is a nursing mother, she would be exempt for up to 24 months, according to the bill’s text.

After the two years are up, she may then be called to reappear for jury duty, it says.

Brown has thanked Weaver for her work on this legislation.

“I’m thankful that no other mother will have to experience this in the future,” she said.

Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover, said previously that she was working to prefile a similar bill, but did not respond to request for comment on if this was still the case.