2022 -- S 2527

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LC005306

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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: Senator Melissa A. Murray

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2022

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

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Building Code" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     23-27.3-702. Gender inclusive restroom act.

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

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

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

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

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

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restroom and does not indicate one specific gender.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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or official may inspect for compliance with this section.

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

 

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regulations required to carry out the purpose of this section.

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     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

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

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compliance.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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