The following are certain statutory sections from the Georgia Code concerning meal and rest periods. Rules and regulations are not covered here.

• The Common Day of Rest Act of 1974

(a) No railroad company shall require or permit its employees who are engaged in the business of operating its trains over its roads to make runs of more than 13 hours or to make runs aggregating more than 13 hours in any 24 hours, except when such train is detained by reason of casualty or other cause from reaching its destination on schedule time.

(b) No trainman, after having been on runs for as much as 13 hours out of a 24 hour period, shall be required to go again on duty until after ten hours' rest, except in the case stated in subsection (a) of this Code section. Any railroad company violating any of the provisions of this Code section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00.

(c) Actions for the collection of penalties pursuant to this Code section shall be brought in the county in which is situated the principal office of the railroad company, provided that if such company has no principal office in this state, then such action may be brought in any county in which such company has a track and an agent. All penalties collected pursuant to this Code section shall be paid into the general fund of the state treasury.

Nursing mothers

31-1-9.

The breast-feeding of a baby is an important and basic act of nurture to which every baby has a right and which act must be encouraged in the interests of maternal and child health and family values, and in furtherance of this right, a mother may breast-feed her baby in any location, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be, provided the mother acts in a discreet and modest way.

34-1-6.

(a) As used in this Code section, the term "employer" means any person or entity that employs one or more employees and shall include the state and its political subdivisions.

(b) An employer may provide reasonable unpaid break time each day to an employee who needs to express breast milk for her infant child. The employer may make reasonable efforts to provide a room or other location (in close proximity to the work area), other than a toilet stall, where the employee can express her milk in privacy. The break time shall, if possible, run concurrently with any break time already provided to the employee. An employer is not required to provide break time under this Code section if to do so would unduly disrupt the operations of the employer.

The Common Day of Rest Act of 1974

Sec. 10-1-571. Definitions.

As used in this article, the term:

(1) "Two consecutive days of Saturday and Sunday" means the time between 12:00 Midnight on Friday and 12:00 Midnight on Saturday and from 12:00 Midnight on Saturday to 12:00 Midnight on Sunday.

(2) "Two rest days" means the time between 12:00 Midnight on Friday and 12:00 Midnight on Saturday and from 12:00 Midnight on Saturday to 12:00 Midnight on Sunday.

Sec. 10-1-572. Legislative intent.

The purpose of this article is to promote the health, recreation, welfare, repose, and religious liberty of each individual of this state. This article is not designed to be discriminatory in any way or to any group but rather to provide the public with necessary benefits and services at all times, while at the same time protecting the lawful humanitarian, social, and religious rights of each individual.

Sec. 10-1-573. Employees to be given benefit of day of rest.

Any business or industry which operates on either of the two rest days (Saturday or Sunday) and employs those whose habitual day of worship has been chosen by the employer as a day of work shall make all reasonable accommodations to the religious, social, and physical needs of such employees so that those employees may enjoy the same benefits as employees in other occupations.

Sec. 10-1-574. Exemptions.

This article is not applicable to and shall not prohibit:

(1) Casual transactions between persons, none of whom are thereby carrying on a business or business transactions;

(2) Agricultural operations such as farming, animal and poultry husbandry, forestry, and allied activity;

(3) The conduct of the businesses and activities referred to in Code Sections 10-1-575 and 10-1-576;

(4) The practice of the healing arts by persons licensed or otherwise authorized to practice the healing arts under the laws of Georgia.

Exemptions - Charitable or religious activities.

Sec. 10-1-575.

The prohibitions of this article are not applicable to a person, nonprofit organization, or nonprofit corporation if its activity is conducted solely for charitable or religious purposes.

Exemptions - Governmental departments, agencies, and employees.

Sec. 10-1-576.

The prohibitions of this article are not applicable to any federal, state, county, municipal, or other local government department or agency in the conduct of its official duties nor to the employees thereof in the discharge of their official employment.