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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | 2025 -- H 5611 |
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| 6 | 6 | | ======== |
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| 7 | 7 | | LC001793 |
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| 8 | 8 | | ======== |
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| 9 | 9 | | S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D |
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| 10 | 10 | | IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 11 | 11 | | JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025 |
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| 12 | 12 | | ____________ |
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| 13 | 13 | | |
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| 14 | 14 | | A N A C T |
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| 15 | 15 | | RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- PUBLIC BUILDINGS |
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| 16 | 16 | | Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Chippendale, Azzinaro, Finkelman, Casey, |
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| 17 | 17 | | Casimiro, Kazarian, Hopkins, Morales, and Dawson |
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| 18 | 18 | | Date Introduced: February 26, 2025 |
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| 19 | 19 | | Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources |
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| 20 | 20 | | |
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| 21 | 21 | | |
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| 22 | 22 | | It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
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| 23 | 23 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 37-8 of the General Laws entitled "Public Buildings" is hereby 1 |
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| 24 | 24 | | amended by adding thereto the following section: 2 |
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| 25 | 25 | | 37-8-21. Universal changing stations required in public buildings. 3 |
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| 26 | 26 | | (a) The department of administration shall, by January 1, 2026, adopt regulations requiring 4 |
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| 27 | 27 | | any public building that is newly constructed, reconstructed or remodeled on or after January 1, 5 |
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| 28 | 28 | | 2027 to install and maintain at least one universal changing station. 6 |
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| 29 | 29 | | (b) The regulations adopted by the department pursuant to this section shall include the 7 |
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| 30 | 30 | | following: 8 |
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| 31 | 31 | | (1) A requirement that the entrance to each universal changing station has conspicuous 9 |
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| 32 | 32 | | signage indicating the location of the station; 10 |
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| 33 | 33 | | (2) A requirement that if a public building has a central directory, said central directory 11 |
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| 34 | 34 | | shall indicate the location of the universal changing station; and 12 |
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| 35 | 35 | | (3) A requirement that all universal changing stations shall: 13 |
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| 36 | 36 | | (i) Be capable of supporting up to three hundred fifty pounds (350 lbs.); 14 |
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| 37 | 37 | | (ii) Be equipped with a height-adjustable changing table; 15 |
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| 38 | 38 | | (iii) Be located inside a private restroom or in a private stall, enclosed area or privacy screen 16 |
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| 39 | 39 | | within a multi-stall restroom; 17 |
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| 40 | 40 | | (iv) Provide adequate space for assistance; and 18 |
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| 41 | 41 | | (v) Comply with all requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. 19 |
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| 42 | 42 | | |
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| 43 | 43 | | |
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| 44 | 44 | | LC001793 - Page 2 of 3 |
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| 45 | 45 | | (c) The department may grant an exemption from the requirements of this section if it 1 |
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| 46 | 46 | | determines: 2 |
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| 47 | 47 | | (1) The installation would not be feasible; 3 |
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| 48 | 48 | | (2) The installation would result in a failure to comply with the Americans with Disabilities 4 |
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| 49 | 49 | | Act standards for access for persons with disabilities; 5 |
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| 50 | 50 | | (3) The cost of the proposed reconstruction or remodeling without the inclusion of the 6 |
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| 51 | 51 | | changing table does not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000); 7 |
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| 52 | 52 | | (4) The installation would destroy the historic significance of a historic property; or 8 |
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| 53 | 53 | | (5) The building is not frequented by the public. 9 |
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| 54 | 54 | | (d) For the purposes of this chapter “universal changing station,” means a changing station 10 |
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| 55 | 55 | | within an enclosed restroom facility that is for use by persons of any age who require assistance 11 |
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| 56 | 56 | | with diapering and is accessible by persons of any sex. 12 |
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| 57 | 57 | | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 13 |
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| 58 | 58 | | ======== |
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| 59 | 59 | | LC001793 |
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| 60 | 60 | | ======== |
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| 61 | 61 | | |
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| 62 | 62 | | |
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| 63 | 63 | | LC001793 - Page 3 of 3 |
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| 64 | 64 | | EXPLANATION |
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| 65 | 65 | | BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL |
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| 66 | 66 | | OF |
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| 67 | 67 | | A N A C T |
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| 68 | 68 | | RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- PUBLIC BUILDINGS |
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| 69 | 69 | | *** |
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| 70 | 70 | | This act would require the installation of universal changing stations in all newly 1 |
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| 71 | 71 | | constructed, reconstructed, or remodeled public buildings and places of public accommodation in 2 |
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| 72 | 72 | | the state, starting in 2027. The act would define a "universal changing station" as an enclosed 3 |
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| 73 | 73 | | changing facility accessible to people of all ages and genders who require assistance with diapering. 4 |
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| 74 | 74 | | The act would provide the department of administration is responsible for adopting regulations to 5 |
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| 75 | 75 | | specify the requirements for these stations, such as signage, size, and compliance with the 6 |
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| 76 | 76 | | Americans with Disabilities Act. The act would also allow for exemptions in certain cases, such as 7 |
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| 77 | 77 | | when installation is not feasible or would compromise historic significance 8 |
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| 78 | 78 | | This act would take effect upon passage. 9 |
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| 79 | 79 | | ======== |
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| 80 | 80 | | LC001793 |
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| 81 | 81 | | ======== |
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