2022 -- H 8353

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LC006133

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - STATE BUILDING CODE

     Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, Kislak, Bennett, Cassar, Kazarian, Ruggiero,
Caldwell, Diaz, and Slater

     Date Introduced: June 16, 2022

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 23-27.3-702 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-27.3 entitled "State

Building Code" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     23-27.3-702. Gender inclusive restroom act.

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

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

constructed on or after January 1, 2023, shall be made available for use by persons of any gender,

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

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

restroom and does not indicate one specific gender.

     (b) All new construction of state and municipal buildings opened to the public commenced

after July 1, 2021, and all renovations and replacements of a value in excess of fifty percent (50%)

of existing public state and municipal buildings open to the public commenced after January 1,

2022, shall provide for a single-user toilet facility available for use by persons of any gender.

     (c) A municipality may apply to the local building official state building code standard

committee for a waiver of this provision in the case of unreasonable hardship undue burden.

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

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

or official may inspect for compliance with this section.

     (e) The building codes standard committee shall adopt and promulgate all rules and

regulations required to carry out the purpose of this section.

     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 amend the Gender Inclusive Restroom Act to have a municipality apply to

the state building code standard committee for a waiver in the case of undue burden with

compliance.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC006133

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