Bill Text: NJ A2547 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires installation of baby-changing stations in certain public restrooms.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-13 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Women and Children Committee [A2547 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A2547-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman GABRIELA M. MOSQUERA
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Requires installation of baby-changing stations in certain public restrooms.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning public restrooms and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
"Place of public accommodation" means any of the following, whether publicly or privately owned or operated on a for-profit or nonprofit basis, and which are generally accessible to the public with a maximum occupancy of more than 25 people: a commercial or other office building; an office or building owned, leased, or rented by the State or by a political subdivision of the State; restaurant; public library; museum or art gallery; theater or concert hall; stadium or other facility used for the holding of sporting events; shopping mall or retail store; health care facility licensed pursuant to P.L.1971, c.136 (C.26:2H-1 et seq.); park or playground; or public transportation facility. A "place of public accommodation" shall not include any premises to which a child under three years of age is not permitted or authorized to have access.
"Substantial renovation" means a construction or renovation project requiring a building permit and where the value of the renovation to the restroom exceeds $5,000.
b. Any place of public accommodation that maintains public restrooms shall include a counter or table that is designed as a baby diaper-changing station in at least one of its public restrooms for men and for women, respectively, or in a dedicated unisex family restroom. The requirement shall apply only under the following circumstances:
(1) When there is construction of a new restroom.
(2) When there is substantial renovation of a restroom.
c. No later than 60 days after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), any place of public accommodation that maintains women's restrooms equipped with a baby diaper-changing station shall maintain an equal number of men's restrooms equipped with a baby diaper-changing station.
d. The owner or operator of a place of public accommodation who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a petty disorderly persons offense.
e. The Department of Health or the local board of health or the board, body, or officers exercising the functions of the local board of health according to law, upon written complaint or having reason to suspect that a place of public accommodation is or may be in violation of the provisions of this section, shall, by written notification, advise the person having control of the place of public accommodation accordingly and order appropriate action to be taken.
2. The Commissioner of Health, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month next following enactment, but the Commissioner of Health may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as shall be necessary for the implementation of the act.
STATEMENT
This bill would require baby diaper-changing stations in any newly constructed men's or women's public restroom that is maintained in a place of public accommodation within the State. It would also require any place of public accommodation to install changing stations during renovations to existing restrooms when, when such renovation requires a building permit and the value of the renovation is $5,000 or more.
The bill would further require the owner or operator of a place of public accommodation that maintains one or more women's restrooms with a diaper changing station to maintain an equal number of men's restrooms equipped with a changing station. The bill applies to places of public accommodation with a maximum occupancy level greater than 25 people, but does not include places that deny access to children over three years of age. Failure to comply with the provisions of this bill constitutes a petty disorderly persons offense with a maximum fine of $500, which is punishable by imprisonment for up to 30 days, a civil penalty of up to $500, or both.
