2020 -- S 2557

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LC005020

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - STATE BUILDING CODE

     

     Introduced By: Senators Murray, Euer, Bell, Nesselbush, and Goldin

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2020

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 23-27.3 of the General Laws entitled "State Building Code" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     23-27.3-702. Gender inclusive restroom act.

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     (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general or public laws to the contrary, any

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single-user toilet facility in a public building or place of public accommodation that exists or is

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constructed on or after September 1, 2020, shall be made available for use by persons of any gender,

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and designated for use by not more than one occupant at a time or for family or assisted use. A

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single-user toilet facility may be identified by a sign; provided, that the sign marks the facility as a

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restroom and does not indicate one specific gender.

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     (b) A municipality may apply to the local building official for a waiver of this provision in

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the case of unreasonable hardship.

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     (c) During any inspection of a public building or a place of public accommodation by an

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inspector, building official, or other local official responsible for code enforcement, the inspector

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or official may inspect for compliance with this section.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - STATE BUILDING CODE

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     This act would make any single-user toilet facility in a public building or place of public

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accommodation available for use by persons of any gender.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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