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Lactation consultants urge committee to restore reassignment restriction in A3008
Summary
Lactation consultants testified against committee amendments to A3008, saying the deletion of a provision preventing reassignment during lactation shifts would put clinically trained IBCLCs at risk and could allow staff with only brief counseling credentials to perform hospital-based clinical care.
At a committee hearing, board‑certified lactation consultants urged the Assembly Communities Development and Women—s Affairs Committee to restore a deleted provision in amended A3008 that would have prohibited hospitals from reassigning lactation consultants during a lactation shift.
Alba, identifying herself as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), said she opposes the bill as amended because Community Lactation Counselor (CLC) training—typically 40 hours—does not provide sufficient clinical experience to manage vulnerable postpartum patients. "A CLC program of 40 hours did not prepare me well enough to provide the best care research base to these families," she said, adding that hospital care requires more extensive supervised clinical hours.
Catherine McLaughlin, also an IBCLC, said she supports making lactation consultation broadly available and keeping IBCLCs employed in hospitals, but she expressed disappointment that the committee amendment deleted the provision preventing reassignment of an IBCLC during a lactation shift. McLaughlin said the IBCLC role involves supervised clinical hours and clinical decision-making not suited to counselors whose training is primarily counseling and peer-support focused: "The IBCLC is the gold standard for lactation." She urged the committee to reconsider and restore that restriction.
Committee members encouraged the witnesses to meet with the bill sponsor to clarify concerns and to work toward language that preserves clinical safety while expanding access. The committee ultimately moved A3008 out of committee with amendments; members recorded affirmative responses in the voice vote.
The record does not show a named mover or seconder for the motion. Sponsors were asked to meet with testifiers for further discussion.
