BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1732
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 20, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
1732 (Ting) - As Amended April 11, 2016
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill, commencing March 1, 2017, requires that any
single-user toilet facility at business, place of public
accommodation, or state or local government agency be designated
as an all-gender toilet facility, for use by no more than one
occupant at a time or for family or assisted use. The bill also
authorizes a local code enforcement official to inspect for
compliance with this requirement.
AB 1732
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FISCAL EFFECT:
Likely negligible state costs. It is assumed that there are
currently very few, if any, single-use restrooms in state
facilities that are designated for use by only one gender.
COMMENTS:
Purpose. According to the author, "restrooms are a necessity of
life, and access to them influences our ability to participate
in public life. However, current practices that restrict access
to single-occupancy restrooms by gender create problems of
safety, fairness, and convenience. This burden
disproportionately impacts members of the LGBT community, women,
and parents or caretakers of dependents of the opposite gender.
We must change our focus from segregating access to equalizing
access to this solitary room. This will enable everyone to get
in and out on the same terms. [This bill] eliminates the fears
and frustration that many people experience in public restrooms
on a daily basis by requiring all single-occupancy restrooms to
be designated as 'all gender.'"
This bill will not change existing laws with respect to the
number of, specifications for, or other facility requirements
for restrooms that a business or entity must comply with under
the existing CBC or current local ordinances, but changes the
restroom access designation. The author notes that the
traditions of gender-based restroom restrictions create three
categories of problems: 1) convenience; 2) fairness; and, 3)
safety. In an effort to address those concerns, this bill will
require those businesses with "single-user" restrooms to be
universally accessible regardless of a person's gender
designation.
AB 1732
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Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)
319-2081