BILL ANALYSIS Ó
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1350|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|1020 N Street, Suite 524 | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 1350
Author: Lara (D) and Wolk (D)
Amended: 5/5/14
Vote: 21
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE : 11-0, 4/29/14
AYES: DeSaulnier, Gaines, Beall, Cannella, Galgiani, Hueso,
Lara, Liu, Pavley, Roth, Wyland
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT : Baby diaper changing accommodations
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill directs the Building Standards Commission
(BSC), as part of the next triennial update of the California
Building Standards Code adopted after January 1, 2015, to
require that, if a baby changing station is installed in a new
or newly renovated restroom in a place of public accommodation,
the station be equally available regardless of gender.
ANALYSIS : The California Building Standards Law establishes
the BSC and the process for adopting state building codes.
Under this process, relevant state agencies propose amendments
to model building codes, which the BSC must then adopt, modify,
or reject. For example, the Department of Housing and Community
Development is the relevant state agency for residential
building codes. The Office of Statewide Health Planning and
Development is responsible for hospitals and clinics, and the
CONTINUED
SB 1350
Page
2
Division of the State Architect is the relevant agency for
schools and emergency service buildings. Not all buildings fall
under the jurisdiction of a relevant state agency. Most
commercial, industrial, and manufacturing structures are
considered "local buildings," for which local governments may
determine applicable building standards. With respect to green
building standards, however, current law gives BSC the authority
to adopt building standards for these local buildings.
Every three years, the BSC adopts a new version of the
California Building Code, known as the triennial update. State
agencies begin with a model code developed by a national
code-writing entity. They then propose amendments to the model
codes to reflect California needs and priorities and submit to
the BSC the amended model codes. The BSC must then adopt,
modify, or reject the proposed building standards.
This bill:
1.Directs the BSC, as part of the triennial update of the
California Building Standards Code adopted after January 1,
2015, to require that, if a baby changing station is installed
in a new or newly renovated restroom in a place of public
accommodation, the station be equally available regardless of
gender.
2.Defines renovation as work that exceeds $10,000 to the
restroom.
3.Provides an exemption if the installation cannot comply with
existing disabled access, fire, health, or safety standards.
4.Provides that the BSC may expend funds from the Building
Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund for this
purpose.
Comments
According to the author's office, men are becoming more and more
involved in the care of their young children. Many public
restrooms that provide a baby changing station, however, only
install one in the women's restroom. Unless there is also a
"family" restroom that is accessible to both men and women, this
leaves men with young children with very limited options for
CONTINUED
SB 1350
Page
3
changing diapers. This bill will promotes gender equity and
ensure that public facilities for changing babies' diapers are
equally available to both men and women.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/19/14)
Equality California
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : Equality California states in support,
"As the demographics of the modern American family evolve,
traditional gender roles with women as the primary caregiver for
the children are changing, and men are becoming more and more
involved in the care of their young children.
"As mothers pursue professional careers and advance in the
workforce, the number of men choosing to be stay-at-home dads is
growing at a rapid pace, having increased by 50 percent between
2003 and 2006. According to US Census Bureau data from 2010
there are approximately 12 million single parent families in the
US, and of those 2 million are dad-only families.
"There are also a growing number of same-sex households with
children. According to the 2010 US Census, there are around
640,000 same-sex households in the US, including 90,000 in
California. Of those same-sex households, 25% of male couples
who reported as spouses included children in their household.
"SB 1350 is a reasonable and common sense approach to provide
more equal access to baby changing facilities in public
restrooms."
JA:nl 5/22/14 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
**** END ****
CONTINUED
SB 1350
Page
4
CONTINUED