The Alabama Senate on Wednesday issued final approval on SB76, otherwise known Parker’s Law, which would exempt nursing mothers from jury duty for up to two years.

It now heads to Gov. Kay Ivey’s desk to be signed into law.

Although the Senate approved an earlier version, the bill was then amended by the House Judiciary Committee to require not only a written statement, but also a certificate of birth or other government document or medical record certifying the birth of the child a mother is nursing before she can be excused from jury duty.

The latest form of SB76 was approved by a vote of 129 votes in favor and zero against.

If signed, SB76 will codify what was established by an administrative order passed down from the Alabama Supreme Court earlier this year which states “that a nursing mother of an infant child clearly qualifies for the excuse from jury service” under state judicial code.

“We know that administrative rules can be easily reversed with the stroke of a pen,” Weaver said previously.

“We just feel that this gives them [nursing mothers] the protection that they need.”

This legislation comes 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 said earlier this year that she was even threatened with DHR for bringing in her three-month-old daughter Parker.

This issue is not confined to Jefferson County, according to Weaver.

She said previously that she had received at least 40 calls from nursing mothers who were going to be made to serve on a jury in Alabama.

Under SB76, if a mother can provide to the court the two required documents, she would be exempt for up to 24 months, according to the bill’s text.

After the two years are up, the mother may be called to reappear for jury duty.

Brown thanked Weaver and Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover, who sponsored the House version of the bill, for their work on this legislation.

“It has been said what a commonsense issue this was,” she said.

“So, it has been so reassuring seeing how our Supreme Court Justices and legislators have served and cared for their people to make it right.”