By Mr. Kafka of Stoughton, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2121) of Louis L. Kafka and others relative to public access of private restroom facilities of certain businesses.  Public Health.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Louis L. Kafka

Catherine Rutley

Christine E. Canavan

David B. Sullivan

Thomas P. Kennedy

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act relative to public access of private restroom facilities.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1.

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, Chapter 270 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, shall be amended by adding at the end thereof the following section:-

Section 24.  Any business or place where members of the public have access as invitees or licenses shall provide access to any restroom within said business or said place to anyone with a pressing medical condition, including, but not limited to, pregnancy, ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. An individual requesting such access must present a physician’s statement or identification card stating the medical condition prior to access to any restroom.

Failure to comply with the provisions of this law by any said business or said place shall be punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars.