BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1363
85R7466 JG-D	By: Uresti
	Business & Commerce
	3/27/2017
	As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently, fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and male guardians in general have difficulty when taking babies and toddlers to public buildings owned by the state because they cannot access changing tables that are often located in the women's restroom. Even worse, a number of state buildings do not have changing tables at all.

 

Due to the lack of access to diaper changing tables, men are forced to change diapers on unsanitary restroom floors and counters. Public buildings are taxpayer-funded and should be welcoming to all�and the issue has become more acute as the number of single fathers and stay-at-home dads has grown significantly over the past decade. To address this, the United States Congress recently passed legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support that requires new federal buildings to provide changing tables in restrooms accessible to either gender.

 

S.B. 1363 mirrors federal law in requiring newly constructed or renovated state buildings to have at least one changing table that is accessible to both genders, provided that the building has a restroom that is accessible to the general public. A single changing table in a gender-neutral restroom would suffice. Moreover, the bill requires that state buildings also post signs in a conspicuous place to indicate where the diaper changing stations are located.

 

Requiring state buildings to have at least one accessible changing station will safeguard the health and safety of children, make it easier for state buildings to maintain clean restrooms, and will ensure that public buildings are family-friendly.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1363 amends current law relating to diaper changing stations in restrooms in buildings operated by a governmental entity.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 341, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subchapter G, as follows:

 

SUBCHAPTER G. SANITATION AND SAFETY IN BUILDINGS OPERATED BY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES

 

Sec. 341.101. DIAPER CHANGING STATIONS. (a) Defines "governmental entity."

 

(b) Requires a governmental entity that engages in or contracts for the construction or renovation of any building operated by the governmental entity that has one or more restrooms accessible to the general public to provide a diaper changing station in at least one restroom designated for each gender or, if applicable, in at least one restroom not designated by gender.

 

Sec. 341.102. SIGN REQUIREMENTS. Requires that a governmental entity required under Section 341.101 to provide a diaper changing station in a building operated by the entity post in a conspicuous place a sign with clear language indicating the location in the building of each restroom with a diaper changing station.

 

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2017.