BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1350
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 1350 (Lara and Wolk)
As Amended May 5, 2014
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :32-0
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS 12-1 APPROPRIATIONS 13-4
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|Ayes:|Bonilla, Bocanegra, |Ayes:|Gatto, Bocanegra, |
| |Campos, Dickinson, | |Bradford, |
| |Eggman, Gordon, Hagman, | |Ian Calderon, Campos, |
| |Holden, Maienschein, | |Eggman, Gomez, Holden, |
| |Mullin, Skinner, Ting | |Linder, Pan, Quirk, |
| | | |Ridley-Thomas, Weber |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Jones |Nays:|Bigelow, Donnelly, Jones, |
| | | |Wagner |
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SUMMARY : Requires the California Building Standards Commission
(Commission) to adopt building standards governing the
installation of baby diaper changing stations in places of
public accommodation for equal use by men and women.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires the Commission to develop and adopt building
standards for the installation of baby diaper changing
accommodations in restroom facilities in places of public
accommodation as part of the next triennial edition of the
California Building Standards Code (Code) adopted after
January 1, 2015.
2)Authorizes the Commission to consult with the State Architect,
the State Department of Housing and Community Development, the
Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, and other
interested parties.
3)Authorizes the Commission to expend funds from the Building
Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund, upon
appropriation, for the development and adoption of the
standards.
4)Requires that the standards state that any place of public
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accommodation that installs a baby changing accommodation must
ensure that the accommodation is equally available or provided
regardless of the gender for which the restroom is designed,
under the following circumstances:
a) When there is construction of a new restroom;
b) When there is substantial renovation of a restroom,
meaning a construction or renovation project requiring a
building permit with an estimated cost of $10,000 or more;
or,
c) To the extent that they may be implemented in compliance
with local, state, and federal laws regarding access for
persons with disabilities and with existing fire, health,
and safety standards.
5)States that this bill is not enforceable by a private right of
action.
6)Defines "public accommodation" to have the same meaning as
existing United States Code.
7)Defines the term "substantial renovation."
8)Declares that it is the intent of the Legislature to ensure
that baby diaper changing facilities are provided equally to
both men and women in public restroom facilities.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, any costs to the BSC [Commission] will be minor and
absorbable.
COMMENTS :
1)Purpose of this bill. This bill requires the Commission to
adopt building standards governing the voluntary installation
of baby diaper changing accommodations in places of public
accommodation for equal use by gender. This bill is
author-sponsored.
2)Author's statement. According to the author's office, "As the
demographics of the modern American family evolve, traditional
gender roles with women as the primary caregiver for the
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children are changing, and men are becoming more and more
involved in the care of their young children.
"Many public restrooms that provide a baby changing station
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 changing diapers. SB 1350 will ensure that public
facilities for changing babies' diapers are equally available
to both men and women."
3)The California Building Standards Commission. The Commission,
located within the Department of General Services, was
established in 1953 to review and approve building standards
and codify and publish those standards every three years.
Starting in 1989, the Commission has published the updated
Code in its entirety every three years. Title 24 is available
for purchase or to the public at no cost through depository
libraries. The last published version of the Code was in
2013.
4)Requirements for baby diaper changing accommodations. There
is no current state requirement for the provision of baby
diaper changing accommodations, but there are some technical
standards in place for those facilities which choose to
install them. However, some localities have modified their
local building codes to require placement. In 1998, Florida's
Miami-Dade County adopted standards requiring new or
substantially renovated public-oriented establishments to
install diaper-changing accommodations that are equally
accessible to women and men. San Francisco followed with
similar regulations in 2005.
Analysis Prepared by : Sarah Huchel / B., P. & C.P. / (916)
319-3301
FN: 0004473