Gov. Edward G. Rendell has signed into law a measure that protects a mother's right to breastfeed in public.

Under the law, a mother would be permitted to breastfeed her child in any location, public or private. Local governments would be unable to prohibit breastfeeding in public, and the act of breastfeeding could not be considered indecent exposure.

The bill was introduced by state Sen. Connie Williams, D-Delaware County, who renewed her efforts earlier this year to protect nursing mothers after an incident at a mall in Reading, Berks County. On Feb. 17, a mall security guard apparently asked a woman to move her nursing to a mall bathroom, which prompted a group of mothers to stage a "nurse-in" at the mall in protest.

The issue drew 100 women and children to a rally in the Capitol in May in support of the bill. Some held signs with messages such as "I won't eat in the restroom," and "Bathrooms are for diapers -- not dinner."

Pennsylvania, before this bill was signed, was one of 14 states that did not specifically allow women to breastfeed in public or private places.