Provides for adult changing tables to be placed within an enclosed restroom facility or other similar private facility that is for use by persons with disabilities who need help with diapering at commercial places of public amusement and state-owned buildings open to the public.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6219A
SPONSOR: Burdick TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the civil rights law and the public buildings law, in
relation to enacting the "traveling with dignity act"
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Relates to establishing the "traveling with dignity act"
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 establishes the short title.
Section 2 amends the civil rights law to define adult changing accommo-
dations and to establish guidelines for the installation of adult chang-
ing accommodations in public spaces.
Section 3 sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Adult changing tables are an incredibly important resource for adults
who struggle with mobility issues and incontinence, allowing them to
access the same amenities as those who are ambulatory. Without them,
caregivers may need to resort to changing those in the care in spaces
that may be unsanitary or unsafe, such as bathroom floors, or avoiding
public spaces altogether.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed in 1990 set forth
requirements for public spaces to implement accessibility elements such
as ramps, mobility devices, and more. Unfortunately, adult changing
accommodations were not included in the act, making it imperative for
New York State to pass legislation ensuring that public buildings are
completely accessible to disabled New Yorkers.
Requiring adult changing stations to be installed in public spaces will
afford adults with mobility issues and incontinence the dignity they
deserve, as well as allow them and their caregivers to visit movie thea-
ters, museums, convention centers, and more without worry.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: A8373
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6219--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 27, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BURDICK, LEVENBERG, SEAWRIGHT, SLATER, SHIMSKY,
BEEPHAN, BENEDETTO, SAYEGH, GONZALEZ-ROJAS, ROSENTHAL, REYES, NORBER,
P. CARROLL, CRUZ, KASSAY, BUTTENSCHON, SCHIAVONI, SANTABARBARA,
WEPRIN, PIROZZOLO -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Governmental Operations -- reported and referred to the Committee on
Ways and Means -- recommitted to the Committee on Ways and Means in
accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee
AN ACT to amend the civil rights law and the public buildings law, in
relation to enacting the "traveling with dignity act"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
2 the "traveling with dignity act".
3 § 2. The civil rights law is amended by adding a new section 79-r to
4 read as follows:
5 § 79-r. Adult changing accommodations. 1. As used in this section,
6 the following terms shall have the following meanings:
7 (a) "Adult changing accommodation" means a height-adjustable adult
8 changing table that is for use by persons with disabilities who need
9 help with diapering.
10 (b) "Covered facility" means a commercial place of public amusement,
11 including auditoriums, theatres, convention centers, exhibition halls,
12 permanent amusement parks, and sports arenas, for which the maximum
13 occupancy is determined to be two thousand five hundred or more people.
14 (c) "Disability" shall have the same meaning as provided for in subdi-
15 vision twenty-one of section two hundred ninety-two of the executive
16 law.
17 2. All single-occupancy bathrooms located in covered facilities shall
18 install and maintain at least one adult changing accommodation for
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08285-02-6
A. 6219--A 2
1 persons with a physical disability that is accessible to individuals of
2 any gender when the facility is open to the public, and shall ensure
3 that such bathroom shall be clearly designated by the posting of such on
4 or near the entry door of each bathroom, and, if the facility has a
5 central directory, shall ensure that the central directory indicates the
6 location of the adult changing accommodation, provided that:
7 (a) Covered facilities newly constructed on or after January first,
8 two thousand twenty-seven shall comply with the provisions of this
9 section at the time of construction;
10 (b) Existing covered facilities renovated on or after January first,
11 two thousand twenty-seven, shall comply with the provisions of this
12 section at the time of renovation; and
13 (c) Any other existing covered facility shall comply with the
14 provisions of this section no later than January first, two thousand
15 thirty-four.
16 3. The commissioner of the office of general services, in collab-
17 oration with the chief disability officer, shall promulgate regulations
18 in order to effectuate the requirements of this section, including, but
19 not limited to, specifications regarding the dimensions of such adult
20 changing accommodations.
21 § 3. The public buildings law is amended by adding a new section 148
22 to read as follows:
23 § 148. Adult changing accommodations. 1. As used in this section:
24 (a) "state agency" means any state department, office, board, bureau,
25 commission, agency, or any public authority or public benefit
26 corporation at least one of whose members is appointed by the governor;
27 (b) "state-owned building" means any building owned by a state agency
28 used for official state business;
29 (c) "single-occupancy bathroom" means a bathroom intended for use by
30 no more than one occupant at a time or for family or assisted use and
31 which has a door for entry into and egress from the bathroom that may be
32 locked by the occupant to ensure privacy and security; and
33 (d) "adult changing accommodation" means a height-adjustable adult
34 changing table that is for use by persons with disabilities who need
35 help with diapering.
36 2. Each state agency shall ensure that all state-owned buildings
37 determined by the commissioner of the office of general services to be
38 open to the public shall have at least one single-occupancy bathroom in
39 such building with an adult changing accommodation by January first, two
40 thousand thirty.
41 3. The commissioner of the office of general services, in collab-
42 oration with the chief disability officer, shall promulgate regulations
43 in order to effectuate the requirements of this section, including, but
44 not limited to, specifications regarding the dimensions of such adult
45 changing accommodations.
46 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
