AMENDED IN SENIOR SENATE OCTOBER 25,2011

SENIOR SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 1

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR COX

(COAUTHOR: SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER DAHLGREN) 

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SP 1: REQUIREMENT FOR RESTROOM AND DRESSING ROOM DOORS TO OPEN OUTWARD.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, ALL PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS CONSTRUCTED IN THIS STATE MUST BE ACCESSIBLE TO, AND USABLE BY, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE ALL DOORS IN THE FITIRE CONSTRUCTION OF ALL PUBLIC RESTROOMS AND DRESSING ROOM FACILITIES TO OPEN OUTWARD.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SP 1: RELATING TO PUBLIC FACILITIES

WHEREAS, THE MISSIONS OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND THE STATE BUILDING STANDARDS FOR RESTROOM FACILITIES ARE TO HELP ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO MAINTAIN THEIR DIGNITY AND INDEPENDENCE, ESPECIALLY WHEN USING NEEDED FACILITIES IN PUBLIC PLACES, SUCH AS RESTROOMS AND DRESSING ROOMS; AND

WHEREAS, OUR VISION FOR ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IS THAT THEY BE PROTECTED UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, THAT DIGNITY IS NECESSARY FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS IN OUR DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, THAT ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN ALL ASPECTS OF SOCIETY AND COMMUNITY LIFE, AND THAT THEY BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR HEALTH AND INDEPENDENCE AND FEEL SAFE USING PUBLIC RESTROOMS AND DRESSING ROOM FACILITIES; AND

WHEREAS, SOME PUBLIC RESTROOM AND DRESSING ROOM DOORS, AS DESCRIBED IN THE STATE’S DISABLED RESTROOM BUILDING STANDARDS, DO NOT OPEN OUTWARD; AND

WHEREAS, CALIFORNIA IS HOME TO THOUSANDS OF OLDER CALIFORNIANS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES; AND

WHEREAS, THE PURPOSE OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND STATE BUILDING STANDARDS FOR RESTROOM FACILITIES IS TO ALLOW ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES TO USE PUBLIC FACILITIES IN A SAFE MANNER; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2011 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT ALL DOORS IN THE FUTURE CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC RESTROOMS AND DRESSING ROOM FACILITIES BE REQUIRED TO OPEN OUTWARD; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

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RN 11 18370