RESTROOM ACCESS ACT House SponsorsRep. Kathleen A. Ryg-John A. Fritchey-Karen May-Linda Chapa LaVia-Sidney H. Mathias Senate Sponsors(Sen. Terry Link-Jacqueline Y. Collins) 8/4/2005HousePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 94-0450 New Act Creates the Restroom Access Act. Requires a retail establishment that has a toilet facility for its employees to allow a customer to use that facility during normal business hours if the following conditions are met: (1) the customer requesting the use of the employee toilet facility suffers from an eligible medical condition or utilizes an ostomy device; (2) three or more employees of the retail establishment are working at the time the request is made; (3) the retail establishment does not normally make a restroom available to the public; (4) the employee toilet facility is not located in an area where providing access would create an obvious health or safety risk to the customer; and (5) a public restroom is not immediately accessible to the customer. Provides circumstances in which the retail establishment or an employee would not be civilly liable for any act or omission in allowing a customer to use an employee toilet facility. Provides that a retail establishment is not required to make any physical changes to an employee toilet facility. Provides a penalty of not more than $100 for a violation of the Act. Effective immediately.House Amendment No. 1 Provides that a "retail establishment' does not include a filling station or service station, with a structure of 800 square feet or less, that has an employee toilet facility located within that structure.House Amendment No. 2 Provides that in addition to certain conditions being met, a retail establishment that has a toilet facility for its employees shall allow a customer to use that facility during normal business hours if the toilet facility is reasonably safe. Provides that a retail establishment or an employee of a retail establishment is not civilly liable for any act or omission in allowing a customer that has an eligible medical condition (instead of a customer) to use an employee toilet facility that is not a public restroom if the act or omission meets specified conditions. 2/2/2005HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Kathleen A. Ryg 2/2/2005HouseFirst Reading 2/2/2005HouseReferred to Rules Committee 2/8/2005HouseAssigned to Judiciary I - Civil Law Committee 2/17/2005HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Karen May 2/17/2005HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia 3/9/2005HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. John A. Fritchey 3/9/2005HouseHouse Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Judiciary I - Civil Law Committee 3/9/2005HouseHouse Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Judiciary I - Civil Law Committee; by Voice Vote 3/9/2005HouseDo Pass as Amended / Short Debate Judiciary I - Civil Law Committee; 014-000-000 3/10/2005HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 4/5/2005HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate 4/5/2005HouseHeld on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate 4/11/2005HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Sidney H. Mathias 4/12/2005HouseHouse Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Kathleen A. Ryg 4/12/2005HouseHouse Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee 4/12/2005HouseHouse Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 004-000-000 4/13/2005HouseHouse Amendment No. 2 Adopted by Voice Vote 4/13/2005HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate 4/14/2005HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 113-000-000 4/15/2005SenateArrive in Senate 4/15/2005SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading April 19, 2005 4/15/2005SenateChief Senate Sponsor Sen. Terry Link 4/15/2005SenateFirst Reading 4/15/2005SenateReferred to Rules 4/21/2005SenateAssigned to Commerce & Economic Development 5/5/2005SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins 5/5/2005SenateDo Pass Commerce & Economic Development; 006-000-000 5/5/2005SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 10, 2005 5/11/2005SenateSecond Reading 5/11/2005SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 12, 2005 5/18/2005SenateThird Reading - Passed; 055-000-000 5/18/2005HousePassed Both Houses 6/16/2005HouseSent to the Governor 8/4/2005HouseGovernor Approved 8/4/2005HouseEffective Date August 4, 2005 8/4/2005HousePublic Act . . . . . . . . . 94-0450