Senate Bill S5924

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5924
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 4, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive law, the general business law, the  public
   authorities  law, and the public buildings law, in relation to requir-
   ing certain buildings display domestic violence signs in  their  bath-
   rooms
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as  the  "Domestic
 Violence Bathroom Signage Act".
   §  2.  Paragraph  (p) of subdivision 3 of section 575 of the executive
 law, as relettered by chapter 740 of the laws  of  2022,  is  relettered
 paragraph (q) and a new paragraph (p) is added to read as follows:
   (P)  DEVELOPING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SIGNAGE AND ENFORCING THE DISPLAY OF
 SUCH SIGNAGE UNDER SECTIONS TWO HUNDRED SIX-G AND THREE HUNDRED NINETY-F
 OF THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW, THREE HUNDRED EIGHTY-NINE-A OF  THE  PUBLIC
 AUTHORITIES  LAW,  AND  ONE  HUNDRED FORTY-EIGHT OF THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS
 LAW.
   (I) SUCH SIGNAGE SHALL:
   (A) INCLUDE INFORMATION REGARDING SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO
 VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
   (B) BE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND ANY OTHER LANGUAGE  DETERMINED  APPRO-
 PRIATE BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE.
   (II)  THE  OFFICE  SHALL  CREATE  A MECHANISM FOR PEOPLE TO REGISTER A
 COMPLAINT WHICH MAY INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION BY THE OFFICE.
   (III) THE OFFICE, WHILE A BUILDING IS  UNDERGOING  OTHERWISE  MANDATED
 INSPECTIONS,  MAY  INSPECT FOR COMPLIANCE WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SIGNAGE
 REQUIREMENTS.
   (IV) THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE SHALL INFORM THE ENTITY OF ANY DISCOV-
 ERED FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SIGNAGE REQUIREMENTS.  THE
 ENTITY  SHALL CURE THE VIOLATION OR DEMONSTRATE TO THE DIRECTOR THAT THE

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04142-01-5
              

 S. 5924                             2
 
 FINDING OF NON-COMPLIANCE WAS INCORRECT. IF THE ENTITY IS FOUND TO BE IN
 NON-COMPLIANCE, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL  PROVIDE  THE  ENTITY  SIGNAGE  AND
 RESOURCE MATERIALS.
   § 3. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 206-g
 to read as follows:
   §   206-G.  INFORMATION  CONCERNING  SERVICES  FOR  DOMESTIC  VIOLENCE
 VICTIMS.  1. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "LODGING FACILITY" SHALL MEAN
 ANY INN, HOTEL, MOTEL, MOTOR COURT OR OTHER ESTABLISHMENT THAT  PROVIDES
 LODGING  TO  TRANSIENT GUESTS. SUCH TERM SHALL NOT INCLUDE AN ESTABLISH-
 MENT TREATED AS A DWELLING UNIT FOR THE PURPOSES OF ANY STATE  OR  LOCAL
 LAW OR REGULATION OR AN ESTABLISHMENT LOCATED WITHIN A BUILDING THAT HAS
 FIVE  OR  LESS ROOMS FOR RENT OR HIRE AND THAT IS ACTUALLY OCCUPIED AS A
 RESIDENCE BY THE PROPRIETOR OF SUCH ESTABLISHMENT.
   2. EVERY KEEPER OF A LODGING FACILITY SHALL MAKE  AVAILABLE  IN  PLAIN
 VIEW  AND IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE AND MANNER IN THE PUBLIC RESTROOMS, AND
 IN THE INDIVIDUAL GUEST ROOMS, AND NEAR THE PUBLIC ENTRANCE OR IN ANOTH-
 ER CONSPICUOUS LOCATION IN CLEAR VIEW OF THE PUBLIC  AND  THE  EMPLOYEES
 WHERE  SIMILAR  INFORMATION  IS  CUSTOMARILY  DISPLAYED  IN SUCH LODGING
 FACILITY,  INFORMATIONAL  SIGNAGE  DEVELOPED  BY  THE  OFFICE  FOR   THE
 PREVENTION  OF  DOMESTIC  VIOLENCE.  SUCH INFORMATIONAL SIGNAGE SHALL BE
 PLACED ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER OF  THE  RESTROOM  MIRROR  OR,  IF  NO
 MIRROR  LARGER  THAN FORTY-EIGHT INCHES BY THIRTY INCHES IS IN THE REST-
 ROOM, ON THE BACK OF THE RESTROOM DOOR AT APPROXIMATELY FIVE FEET  ABOVE
 THE FLOOR.
   § 4. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 390-f
 to read as follows:
   §   390-F.  INFORMATION  CONCERNING  SERVICES  FOR  DOMESTIC  VIOLENCE
 VICTIMS.   1. EVERY ENTITY  WHICH  MAINTAINS  A  PUBLIC  RESTROOM  SHALL
 DISPLAY  IN  PLAIN  VIEW  AND  IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE AND MANNER IN SUCH
 PUBLIC RESTROOMS INFORMATIONAL SIGNAGE CREATED BY  THE  OFFICE  FOR  THE
 PREVENTION  OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNDER SECTION FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE
 OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW.
   2. EVERY ENTITY WHICH MAINTAINS  A  RESTROOM  FOR  ITS  PATRONS  SHALL
 DISPLAY  IN  PLAIN  VIEW  AND  IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE AND MANNER IN SUCH
 RESTROOMS INFORMATIONAL SIGNAGE CREATED BY THE OFFICE FOR THE PREVENTION
 OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNDER SECTION  FIVE  HUNDRED  SEVENTY-FIVE  OF  THE
 EXECUTIVE LAW.
   §  5.  The  public  authorities law is amended by adding a new section
 389-a to read as follows:
   § 389-A. INFORMATION CONCERNING SERVICES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS
 IN FACILITIES AT SERVICE AREAS. 1. ANY SERVICE AREA MAINTAINED OR  OPER-
 ATED  BY  THE AUTHORITY SHALL DISPLAY IN PLAIN VIEW AND IN A CONSPICUOUS
 PLACE AND MANNER IN THE PUBLIC RESTROOMS AND  IN  ANY  LACTATION  ROOMS,
 INFORMATIONAL  SIGNAGE  DEVELOPED  BY  THE  OFFICE FOR THE PREVENTION OF
 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNDER SECTION FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE OF THE  EXECU-
 TIVE LAW.
   2. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "LACTATION ROOM" SHALL MEAN A HYGIEN-
 IC PLACE, OTHER THAN A RESTROOM, THAT: (A) IS SHIELDED FROM VIEW; (B) IS
 FREE  FROM  INTRUSION;  (C) CONTAINS A CHAIR, A WORKING SURFACE, AND, IF
 THE BUILDING IS  OTHERWISE  SUPPLIED  WITH  ELECTRICITY,  AN  ELECTRICAL
 OUTLET;  AND  (D)  IS  INTENDED  TO  BE  USED FOR THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF
 BREASTFEEDING OR EXPRESSING BREAST MILK.
   § 6. The public buildings law is amended by adding a new  section  148
 to read as follows:
   §  148.  INFORMATION CONCERNING SERVICES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS
 IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION:
 S. 5924                             3
 
   (A) "COVERED PUBLIC BUILDING" MEANS A PUBLIC  BUILDING  OWNED  BY  THE
 STATE OF NEW YORK, UNDER THE SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF THE COMMISSIONER
 OF  GENERAL SERVICES, THAT IS DETERMINED BY SAID COMMISSIONER TO BE OPEN
 TO THE PUBLIC; AND
   (B)  "LACTATION  ROOM"  MEANS A HYGIENIC PLACE, OTHER THAN A BATHROOM,
 THAT:
   (I) IS SHIELDED FROM VIEW;
   (II) IS FREE FROM INTRUSION;
   (III) CONTAINS A CHAIR, A WORKING SURFACE, AND, IF THE PUBLIC BUILDING
 IS OTHERWISE SUPPLIED WITH ELECTRICITY, AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET; AND
   (IV) IS INTENDED TO BE USED FOR THE PRIMARY PURPOSE  OF  BREASTFEEDING
 OR EXPRESSING BREAST MILK.
   2.  A  COVERED  PUBLIC  BUILDING  SHALL DISPLAY IN PLAIN VIEW AND IN A
 CONSPICUOUS PLACE AND MANNER IN THE PUBLIC RESTROOMS AND IN  ANY  LACTA-
 TION  ROOMS  INFORMATIONAL  SIGNAGE  DEVELOPED  BY  THE  OFFICE  FOR THE
 PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNDER SECTION FIVE HUNDRED  SEVENTY-FIVE
 OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW.
   § 7. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it  shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be  made  and
 completed on or before such effective date.