NY State Senate Bill S6479A

Archive: Last Bill Status Via A5240 - Signed by Governor

Introduced
In Committee
On Floor Calendar
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
Delivered to Governor
Signed by Governor

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Actions

view actions (13)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Dec 23, 2020	signed chap.353
Dec 11, 2020	delivered to governor
Jul 22, 2020	returned to assembly passed senate 3rd reading cal.796 substituted for s6479a
Jul 22, 2020	substituted by a5240a
Jul 21, 2020	ordered to third reading cal.796
Jul 20, 2020	reported and committed to rules
Jun 17, 2020	print number 6479a
Jun 17, 2020	amend (t) and recommit to codes
Jan 08, 2020	referred to codes
Jun 13, 2019	referred to rules

Votes

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

Original

A (Active)

Co-Sponsors

S6479 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5240
Law Section:: Civil Rights Law
Laws Affected:: Add §79-p, Civ Rts L; add §409-m, amd §§355, 6206 & 6306, Ed L
Versions Introduced in 2017-2018 Legislative Session:: S5993, A6500

S6479 - Summary

Relates to making all single-occupancy bathrooms gender neutral in school districts, charter schools, SUNY, CUNY, community colleges, restaurants, bars, mercantile establishments, factories and state owned or operated buildings.

S6479 - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S6479

SPONSOR: SALAZAR
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the civil rights law and the education
law, in relation to single occupancy bathroom facilities

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill would designate all single occupancy bathroom facilities in
public places and in all public and private schools as gender neutral.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the civil rights-law by adding a new section (79-o) to
require all single occupancy bathroom facilities in public places,
including but not limited to those located in restaurants, bars, mercan-
tile establishments, factories or state-owned or operated buildings, to
be designated as gender neutral for use by no more than one occupant at
a time or for family or assisted use.

Sections 2 adds a new section 409-m to the education law to require the

board of education or trustees of every school district, or the chancel-
lor for the city school district of New York City, every board of coop-
erative educational services, charter school, and schools within the
state to develop policies to require all single occupancy bathrooms
facilities to be designated as gender neutral.  Section 3 adds a new
subdivision 20 to section 355 of the education law to require state
university trustees to adopt these rules at each institution of the
state university. Section 4 adds a new subdivision 20 to section 6206 to
require the board of trustees to adopt these rules at each institution
of the city university. Section 5 adds a new subdivision 11 to section
6306 to require the board of trustees to adopt these rules at each
community college.

Section 6 is the effective date.

 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):

The amended version makes technical amendments to ensure CUNY, SUNY, and
community colleges are included in adopting policies to designate all
single occupancy bathroom facilities as gender neutral.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Access to public spaces should not be a privilege. A person's sexual
orientation and gender identity are not justifications to exclude indi-
viduals from public spaces, including bathrooms. The argument that
transgender individuals must use the restroom that corresponds with
their assigned gender at birth is discriminatory and wrong.  New York
State has been a safe haven for people from all backgrounds and beliefs,
and we must recognize our role as a leader in the fight for transgender
rights. Expanding the civil liberties of transgender individuals is a
task New York must take up with pride. We must acknowledge that this
issue is not about bathrooms, but is instead about fighting for a
person's right to exist in the world free from harassment and discrimi-
nation.

The California legislature recently passed the most progressive bill on
bathroom access in the nation. Now is an opportunity for New York to
join California in its efforts to protect transgender individuals and
expand inclusivity and dignity for all. Modeled after California's bill,
this act would require all publicly accessible bathrooms, including
those in public and private schools, restaurants, bars, mercantile
establishments, factories or state-owned or operated buildings, to
designate all single occupancy bathrooms as gender neutral.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2018: S.5993-A - Referred to Codes / A.6500-A - Referred to Governmental
Operations
2017: S.5993-A - Referred to Codes / A.6500-A - Referred to Rules

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

S6479 - Bill Text download pdf


                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  6479

                       2019-2020 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                              June 13, 2019
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen. SALAZAR -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules

AN ACT to amend the civil rights law and the education law, in  relation
  to single occupancy bathroom facilities

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, 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.  GENDER NEUTRAL SINGLE OCCUPANCY BATHROOM FACILITIES.  1. ALL
SINGLE OCCUPANCY BATHROOM FACILITIES LOCATED IN PUBLIC PLACES, INCLUDING
BUT NOT LIMITED TO THOSE LOCATED IN RESTAURANTS, BARS, MERCANTILE ESTAB-
LISHMENTS, FACTORIES OR STATE-OWNED  OR  OPERATED  BUILDINGS,  SHALL  BE
DESIGNATED  AS  GENDER NEUTRAL FOR USE BY NO MORE THAN ONE OCCUPANT AT A
TIME OR FOR FAMILY OR  ASSISTED  USE.  FOR  PURPOSES  OF  THIS  SECTION,
"STATE-OWNED  OR OPERATED BUILDINGS" SHALL MEAN ANY STATE-OWNED PROPERTY
USED FOR OFFICIAL STATE BUSINESS  AND  SHALL  INCLUDE  ANY  BUILDING  OR
OFFICE SPACE, NOT OWNED BY THE STATE, BUT WHICH PRIMARY USE IS FOR OFFI-
CIAL STATE BUSINESS.
  2. SUCH GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOM FACILITIES SHALL BE CLEARLY DESIGNATED
BY THE POSTING OF SUCH ON OR NEAR EACH FACILITY.
  §  2.  The  education  law is amended by adding a new section 409-m to
read as follows:
  § 409-M. GENDER NEUTRAL SINGLE OCCUPANCY  BATHROOM  FACILITIES.    THE
BOARD  OF EDUCATION OR TRUSTEES OF EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT OR, IN THE CASE
OF THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, THE CHANCELLOR, AND EVERY BOARD
OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, CHARTER SCHOOL AND NONPUBLIC SCHOOL
WITHIN THE STATE SHALL DEVELOP POLICIES AND  PROCEDURES  REQUIRING  THAT
ALL  SINGLE  OCCUPANCY  BATHROOM  FACILITIES  ARE  DESIGNATED  AS GENDER
NEUTRAL FOR USE BY NO MORE THAN ONE OCCUPANT AT A TIME OR FOR FAMILY  OR
ASSISTED  USE.  SUCH GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOM FACILITIES SHALL BE CLEARLY
DESIGNATED BY THE POSTING OF SUCH ON OR NEAR EACH FACILITY.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                           LBD03015-01-9

S. 6479                             2

  § 3. Section 355 of the education law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
subdivision 20 to read as follows:
  20.  THE  STATE  UNIVERSITY  TRUSTEES SHALL ADOPT RULES REQUIRING THAT
EACH INSTITUTION OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK ADOPT WRITTEN POLI-
CIES REQUIRING THAT ALL PUBLIC SINGLE OCCUPANCY BATHROOM  FACILITIES  BE
DESIGNATED  AS  GENDER NEUTRAL FOR USE BY NO MORE THAN ONE OCCUPANT AT A
TIME OR FOR FAMILY OR ASSISTED USE. SUCH GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOM FACILI-
TIES SHALL BE CLEARLY DESIGNATED BY THE POSTING OF SUCH ON OR NEAR  EACH
FACILITY.
  §  4.  Section  6206  of  the education law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 20 to read as follows:
  20. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SHALL ADOPT RULES REQUIRING THAT EACH INSTI-
TUTION OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK ADOPT WRITTEN POLICIES REQUIR-
ING THAT ALL PUBLIC SINGLE OCCUPANCY BATHROOM FACILITIES  BE  DESIGNATED
AS  GENDER NEUTRAL FOR USE BY NO MORE THAN ONE OCCUPANT AT A TIME OR FOR
FAMILY OR ASSISTED USE. SUCH GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOM FACILITIES SHALL BE
CLEARLY DESIGNATED BY THE POSTING OF SUCH ON OR NEAR EACH FACILITY.
  § 5. Section 6306 of the education law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
subdivision 11 to read as follows:
  11.  THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF EACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE SHALL ADOPT WRIT-
TEN POLICIES REQUIRING THAT ALL PUBLIC SINGLE OCCUPANCY BATHROOM FACILI-
TIES BE DESIGNATED AS GENDER NEUTRAL FOR USE BY NO MORE THAN  ONE  OCCU-
PANT  AT  A  TIME  OR  FOR  FAMILY  OR ASSISTED USE. SUCH GENDER NEUTRAL
BATHROOM FACILITIES SHALL BE CLEARLY DESIGNATED BY THE POSTING  OF  SUCH
ON OR NEAR EACH FACILITY.
  §  6.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law.

Co-Sponsors

view additional co-sponsors

S6479A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5240
Law Section:: Civil Rights Law
Laws Affected:: Add §79-p, Civ Rts L; add §409-m, amd §§355, 6206 & 6306, Ed L
Versions Introduced in 2017-2018 Legislative Session:: S5993, A6500

S6479A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S6479A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S6479a

SPONSOR: SALAZAR
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the civil rights law and the education law, in relation
to single-occupancy bathroom facilities

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill would designate all single occupancy bathroom facilities in
public places and in all public and private schools as gender neutral.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the civil rights-law by adding a new section (79-p) to
require all single occupancy bathroom facilities in public places,
including but not limited to those located in restaurants, bars, mercan-
tile establishments, factories, to be designated as gender neutral for
use by no more than one occupant at a time or for family or assisted
use.

Sections 2 adds a new section 409-m to the education law to require the
board of education or trustees of every school district, or the chancel-
lor for the city school district of New York City, every board of coop-
erative educational services, charter school, and schools within the
state to develop policies to require all single occupancy bathrooms
facilities to be designated as gender neutral. Section 3 adds a new
subdivision 20 to section 355 of the education law to require state
university trustees to adopt these rules at each institution of the
state university. Section 4 adds a new subdivision 20 to section 6206 to
require the board of trustees to adopt these rules at each institution
of the city university. Section 5 adds a new subdivision 11 to section
6306 to require the board of trustees to adopt these rules at each
community college.

Section 6 is the effective date.

 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):

The amended version makes technical changes to confirm this bill with
related legislation enacted as Chap. 729 of the Laws of 2019 and Chap.
20 of the Laws of 2020 which, together, effected similar requirements
for state-owned or operated buildings.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Access to public spaces should not be a privilege. A person's sexual
orientation and gender identity are not justifications to exclude indi-
viduals from public spaces, including bathrooms. The argument that
transgender individuals must use the restroom that corresponds with
their assigned gender at birth is discriminatory and wrong. New York
State has been a safe haven for people from all backgrounds and beliefs,
and we must recognize our role as a leader in the fight for transgender
rights. Expanding the civil liberties of transgender individuals is a
task New York must take up with pride. We must acknowledge that this
issue is not about bathrooms, but is instead about fighting for a
person's right to exist in the world free from harassment and discrimi-
nation.
The California legislature recently passed the most progressive bill on
bathroom access in the nation. Now is an opportunity for New York to
join California in its efforts to protect transgender individuals and
expand inclusivity and dignity for all. Modeled after California's bill,
this act would require all publicly accessible bathrooms, including
those in public and private schools, restaurants, bars, mercantile
establishments, factories or state-owned or operated buildings, to
designate all single occupancy bathrooms as gender neutral.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2018: S.5993-A - Referred to Codes / A.6500-A - Referred to Governmental
Operations
2017: S.5993-A - Referred to Codes / A.6500-A - Referred to Rules

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect 90 days after it shall have become law.

S6479A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf


                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 6479--A

                       2019-2020 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                              June 13, 2019
                               ___________

Introduced  by Sens. SALAZAR, BIAGGI, CARLUCCI, JACKSON, KRUEGER, MYRIE,
  RAMOS, SKOUFIS, STAVISKY -- read twice and ordered printed,  and  when
  printed  to  be  committed to the Committee on Rules -- recommitted to
  the Committee on Codes in accordance with Senate Rule  6,  sec.  8  --
  committee  discharged,  bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
  recommitted to said committee

AN ACT to amend the civil rights law and the education law, in  relation
  to single-occupancy bathroom facilities

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The civil rights law is amended by  adding  a  new  section
79-p to read as follows:
  §  79-P.  GENDER NEUTRAL SINGLE-OCCUPANCY BATHROOM FACILITIES.  1. ALL
SINGLE-OCCUPANCY BATHROOM FACILITIES LOCATED IN PUBLIC PLACES, INCLUDING
BUT NOT LIMITED TO THOSE LOCATED IN RESTAURANTS, BARS, MERCANTILE ESTAB-
LISHMENTS, OR FACTORIES, SHALL BE DESIGNATED AS GENDER NEUTRAL  FOR  USE
BY  NO  MORE  THAN ONE OCCUPANT AT A TIME OR FOR FAMILY OR ASSISTED USE.
FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "SINGLE-OCCUPANCY BATHROOM" SHALL HAVE THE
SAME MEANING AS PARAGRAPH (D) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION ONE  HUNDRED
FORTY-FIVE OF THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS LAW.
  2. SUCH GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOM FACILITIES SHALL BE CLEARLY DESIGNATED
BY THE POSTING OF SUCH ON OR NEAR THE ENTRY DOOR OF EACH FACILITY.
  §  2.  The  education  law is amended by adding a new section 409-m to
read as follows:
  § 409-M. GENDER NEUTRAL SINGLE-OCCUPANCY  BATHROOM  FACILITIES.    THE
BOARD  OF EDUCATION OR TRUSTEES OF EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT OR, IN THE CASE
OF THE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, THE CHANCELLOR, AND EVERY BOARD
OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, CHARTER SCHOOL AND NONPUBLIC SCHOOL
WITHIN THE STATE SHALL DEVELOP POLICIES AND  PROCEDURES  REQUIRING  THAT
ALL  SINGLE-OCCUPANCY  BATHROOM  FACILITIES  ARE  DESIGNATED  AS  GENDER
NEUTRAL FOR USE BY NO MORE THAN ONE OCCUPANT AT A TIME OR FOR FAMILY  OR

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                           LBD03015-03-0

S. 6479--A                          2

ASSISTED  USE.  SUCH GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOM FACILITIES SHALL BE CLEARLY
DESIGNATED BY THE POSTING OF SUCH ON OR NEAR  THE  ENTRY  DOOR  OF  EACH
FACILITY.    FOR  PURPOSES  OF THIS SECTION, "SINGLE-OCCUPANCY BATHROOM"
SHALL  HAVE  THE  SAME  MEANING  AS  PARAGRAPH (D) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF
SECTION ONE HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE OF THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS LAW.
  § 3. Section 355 of the education law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
subdivision 20 to read as follows:
  20.  THE  STATE  UNIVERSITY  TRUSTEES SHALL ADOPT RULES REQUIRING THAT
EACH INSTITUTION OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK ADOPT WRITTEN POLI-
CIES REQUIRING THAT ALL PUBLIC SINGLE-OCCUPANCY BATHROOM  FACILITIES  BE
DESIGNATED  AS  GENDER NEUTRAL FOR USE BY NO MORE THAN ONE OCCUPANT AT A
TIME OR FOR FAMILY OR ASSISTED USE. SUCH GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOM FACILI-
TIES SHALL BE CLEARLY DESIGNATED BY THE POSTING OF SUCH ON OR  NEAR  THE
ENTRY  DOOR OF EACH FACILITY.  FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "SINGLE-OC-
CUPANCY BATHROOM" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS PARAGRAPH (D) OF SUBDI-
VISION ONE OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE  OF  THE  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS
LAW.
  §  4.  Section  6206  of  the education law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 20 to read as follows:
  20. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SHALL ADOPT RULES REQUIRING THAT EACH INSTI-
TUTION OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK ADOPT WRITTEN POLICIES REQUIR-
ING THAT ALL PUBLIC SINGLE-OCCUPANCY BATHROOM FACILITIES  BE  DESIGNATED
AS  GENDER NEUTRAL FOR USE BY NO MORE THAN ONE OCCUPANT AT A TIME OR FOR
FAMILY OR ASSISTED USE. SUCH GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOM FACILITIES SHALL BE
CLEARLY DESIGNATED BY THE POSTING OF SUCH ON OR NEAR THE ENTRY  DOOR  OF
EACH  FACILITY.    FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "SINGLE-OCCUPANCY BATH-
ROOM" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS PARAGRAPH (D) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF
SECTION ONE HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE OF THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS LAW.
  § 5. Section 6306 of the education law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
subdivision 11 to read as follows:
  11.  THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF EACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE SHALL ADOPT WRIT-
TEN POLICIES REQUIRING THAT ALL PUBLIC SINGLE-OCCUPANCY BATHROOM FACILI-
TIES BE DESIGNATED AS GENDER NEUTRAL FOR USE BY NO MORE THAN  ONE  OCCU-
PANT  AT  A  TIME  OR  FOR  FAMILY  OR ASSISTED USE. SUCH GENDER NEUTRAL
BATHROOM FACILITIES SHALL BE CLEARLY DESIGNATED BY THE POSTING  OF  SUCH
ON  OR  NEAR  THE  ENTRY  DOOR  OF EACH FACILITY.   FOR PURPOSES OF THIS
SECTION, "SINGLE-OCCUPANCY BATHROOM" SHALL  HAVE  THE  SAME  MEANING  AS
PARAGRAPH  (D)  OF  SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE OF
THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS LAW.
  § 6. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
have become a law.

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The New York State Senate

senate Bill S6479A

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status Via A5240 - Signed by Governor

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

Jul 22, 2020 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jul 22, 2020

Jul 21, 2020 - Rules committee Vote

Rules Committee Vote: Jul 21, 2020

Bill Amendments

Co-Sponsors

S6479 - Details

S6479 - Summary

S6479 - Sponsor Memo

S6479 - Bill Text download pdf

Co-Sponsors

S6479A (ACTIVE) - Details

S6479A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S6479A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S6479A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

senate Bill S6479A

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status Via A5240 - Signed by Governor

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

Jul 22, 2020 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jul 22, 2020

Jul 21, 2020 - Rules committee Vote

Rules Committee Vote: Jul 21, 2020

Bill Amendments

Co-Sponsors

S6479 - Details

S6479 - Summary

S6479 - Sponsor Memo

S6479 - Bill Text download pdf

Co-Sponsors

S6479A (ACTIVE) - Details

S6479A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S6479A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S6479A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments