State Sen. April Weaver, R-Brierfield has filed a bill that would exempt nursing mothers from jury duty for up to two years.

Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, has signed on to cosponsor the bill.

If passed, SB76 would 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 with her to jury duty, told AL.com that she called and turned in forms to be excused prior to reporting to the courthouse but was refused.

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 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.

If passed, the bill will go into effect on Oct.1.

It is currently pending action in the Senate Committee on Judiciary.

Efforts to reach Weaver and Chambliss were not immediately successful.