Sec. 192. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) As used in this section and sections 193 to 195, inclusive, of this act: (1) "Lactation consultant" means a person who holds and maintains certification in good standing as an international board certified lactation consultant with the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners and is licensed pursuant to section 194 of this act; and
(2) "Lactation consulting" means clinical application of scientific principles and a multidisciplinary body of evidence for evaluation, problem identification, treatment, education and consultation to families regarding the course of lactation and feeding, including, but not limited to, the following services:
(A) Taking maternal, child and feeding histories;
(B) Performing clinical assessments related to breastfeeding and human lactation through the systematic collection of subjective and objective information;
(C) Analyzing relevant information and data;
(D) Developing an unbiased lactation management and child feeding plan with demonstration and instruction to parents;
(E) Providing lactation and feeding education, including, but not limited to, recommendations for and training in the use of assistive devices for lactation and breastfeeding;
(F) Communicating to a primary health care practitioner and referring to other health care practitioners, as necessary;
(G) Conducting appropriate follow-up appointments and evaluating outcomes; and (H) Documenting patient encounters in a patient record.
Sec. 193. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) (a) No person may practice lactation consulting, for compensation, unless licensed pursuant to section 194 of this act.
(b) No person shall (1) hold himself or herself out to the public as being licensed as a lactation consultant, (2) use, in connection with such person's name or business, the title "licensed lactation consultant" or "lactation consultant" or the designation "IBCLC" or "L.C.", or (3) make use of any title, words, letters, abbreviations or insignia that may reasonably be confused with licensure as a lactation consultant, unless such person is licensed pursuant to section 194 of this act.
(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a person who (1) is licensed or certified by the Department of Public Health pursuant to title 20 of the general statutes or by the Department of Consumer Protection pursuant to chapter 400j of the general statutes and providing lactation consulting while acting within the scope of practice of the person's license or certification, provided the person does not refer to himself or herself by the term "lactation consultant", (2) is a student enrolled in a lactation consulting educational program or an accredited education program the completion of which is required for licensure or certification by the Department of Public Health pursuant to title 20 of the general statutes or by the Department of Consumer Protection pursuant to chapter 400j of the general statutes, lactation consulting is a part of the student's course of study and the student is performing such consulting under appropriate program supervision, provided the student does not refer to himself or herself by the term "lactation consultant", (3) provides lactation education and support through the federal Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children, administered pursuant to section 19a-59c of the general statutes, or any other federally funded nutrition assistance program administered in the state, to participants in such program while acting within the person's job description and training, provided the person does not refer to himself or herself by the term "lactation consultant", (4) is certified as a community health worker, as defined in section 20-195ttt of the general statutes, and providing lactation support to a HUSKY Health program member, provided the community health worker does not refer to himself or herself by the term "lactation consultant", (5) provides education, social support, peer support, peer counseling or nonclinical services relating to lactation and feeding, provided the person does not refer to himself or herself by the term "lactation consultant", (6) is a doula or midwife and providing services within the doula's or midwife's scope of practice and for which the doula or midwife is trained, provided the doula or midwife does not refer to himself or herself by the term "lactation consultant", or (7) is a public health professional and engaging in outreach, engagement, education, coaching, informal counseling, social support, advocacy, care coordination or research related to social determinants of health or a basic screening or assessment of any risk associated with social Public Act No. 25-168 270 of 745 House Bill No. 7287 determinants of health, provided the professional does not refer to himself or herself by the term "lactation consultant".
Sec. 194. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) (a) The Commissioner of Public Health shall grant a license as a lactation consultant to any applicant who furnishes evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that such applicant has earned a certification as an international board certified lactation consultant from the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners, or any successor of said board. The commissioner shall develop and provide application forms. The application fee shall be two hundred dollars.
(b) Any license issued under this section shall expire in accordance with the provisions of section 19a-88 of the general statutes and may be renewed every two years, for a fee of one hundred dollars. Each licensed lactation consultant applying for license renewal shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the commissioner of having a current certification as an international board certified lactation consultant with the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners, or any successor of said board, and having obtained continuing education units for such certification as required by said board.
Sec. 195. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) The Commissioner of Public Health may deny an application of an individual or take any disciplinary action set forth in section 19a-17 of the general statutes against a lactation consultant for any of the following reasons: (1) Failure to conform to the accepted standards of the profession; (2) conviction of a felony, provided any action taken is based upon (A) the nature of the conviction and its relationship to the license holder's ability to safely or competently practice as a lactation consultant, (B) information pertaining to the degree of rehabilitation of the license holder, and (C) the time elapsed since the conviction or release; (3) fraud or deceit in obtaining or seeking reinstatement of a license to practice lactation consulting; (4) fraud or deceit in the practice of lactation consulting; (5) negligent, incompetent or wrongful conduct in professional activities; (6) physical, mental or emotional illness or disorder resulting in an inability to conform to the accepted standards of the profession; (7) alcohol or substance abuse; (8) wilful falsification of entries in any hospital, patient or other record pertaining to lactation consulting; or (9) failure to maintain certification in good standing as an international board certified lactation consultant with the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. The commissioner may order a license holder to submit to a reasonable physical or mental examination if his or her physical or mental capacity to practice safely is the subject of an investigation. The commissioner may petition the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to enforce such order or any action taken pursuant to section 19a-17 of the general statutes. The commissioner shall give notice and an opportunity to be heard on any contemplated action under section 19a-17 of the general statutes.