Committee approves expanding an infant‑at‑work pilot to state agencies with guardrails
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Summary
The committee unanimously recommended SB258 to expand a Department of Health pilot allowing employees to bring newborns to work for up to six months. DHHS said at least 35 families used the pilot and staff emphasized the program is limited to appropriate, non‑hazardous office settings and includes oversight and a sunset review.
The House Health and Human Services Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 258, which would expand an existing Department of Health infant‑at‑work pilot to other state agencies with statutory guardrails.
Senator Pitcher said the pilot — authorized in 2020 and extended in 2023 — allowed Health Department employees to bring newborns to work for the first six months, provided the work environment was appropriate. Heather Borski (DHHS) told the committee the program is decentralized (agreements between employee and supervisor), that at least 35 families participated in the past year and that participants reported positive transition outcomes.
The bill includes limitations: it applies only to safe office settings (not to labs or inpatient/state hospital environments) and allows a supervising division (human resources) to withdraw agency participation if the program becomes disruptive or non‑compliant. Sponsors noted the senate substitute adds a periodic sunset review. Committee members praised the program’s benefits for recruitment, retention and parental bonding and adopted the substitute for a favorable recommendation by voice vote.
Representative Daley moved to pass the substitute forward with a favorable recommendation; the motion passed unanimously.