What's happening
This bill requires public buildings with diaper changing stations to provide them equally in all-gender restrooms, including new and substantially renovated restrooms.
Why it matters
Promotes parental equality. By requiring diaper changing stations to be available in all-gender restrooms (including men’s rooms), the bill ensures that all caregivers—regardless of gender—have equal access to facilities for changing their children, supporting fathers and non-binary parents.
Applies to new and renovated spaces. The requirements are not retroactive to all existing restrooms but will apply to those built or substantially renovated after the law takes effect, meaning future public spaces will be more family-friendly.
Considers accessibility and safety regulations. Implementation must comply with disability access laws and fire, health, and safety standards, ensuring that the push for inclusivity does not compromise public safety or accessibility for people with disabilities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Equal Diaper Changing Access
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
574
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 4, 2017
Introduced by Sen. HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the civil rights law, in relation to diaper changing accommodations in certain buildings
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The civil rights law is amended by adding a new section 79-o to read as follows:
§ 79-o. Diaper changing accommodations. 1. Any public building or place of public accommodation, resort or amusement, as defined in section two hundred ninety-two of the executive law, that installs a baby diaper changing accommodation in a restroom shall ensure that the accommodation is equally available or provided regardless of the gender for which the restroom is designed.
2. The provisions of subdivision one of this section shall apply:
(a) to restrooms constructed on or after the effective date of this section;
(b) to restrooms existing on or after the effective date of this section which undergo substantial renovation; and
(c) to the extent that the provisions of subdivision one of this section 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.
3. As used in this section, "substantial renovation" means a construction or renovation project requiring a building permit with an estimated cost of ten thousand dollars or more.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05564-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the civil rights law, in relation to diaper changing accommodations in certain buildings
Purpose or general idea of bill
To provide equal access to diaper changing tables in restrooms regardless of the gender for which the restroom is designed.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 adds a new section 79-o to the civil rights law to require that any public building or place of public accommodation, resort or amusement shall provide diaper changing accommodations regardless of the gender for which the restroom is designed, and establishes that this provision applies to restrooms constructed or substantially renovated on or after the effective date of the law. It also requires compliance with laws regarding access for persons with disabilities and with existing fire, health, and safety standards.
Section 2 establishes that the act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
This legislation would correct an inequity in New York State law that does not require equal access to diaper changing tables for all genders in public restrooms. There is a misguided perception among many establishments that changing tables are only a necessary accommodation in women's restrooms, which makes it very difficult in many cases for fathers to find a suitable place to change their child's diaper.
By requiring public buildings and public places of accommodation to provide equal access to changing tables, this legislation would make it easier for men to find a place to change their child's diaper and remedy an often overlooked inequity in our state's laws.
Prior legislative history
S.4805 of 2015-2016 (Hoylman): Died in Codes
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.