A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Here’s what the Texas bathroom bill means in plain English
The Texas Legislature failed to pass a bathroom bill during the 2017 regular legislative session or during a summer special session. Read about how the bathroom bill died.
Following North Carolina’s lead, Texas Republicans in January unveiled the so-called “bathroom bill” to regulate bathroom use and keep transgender Texans from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity.
Senate Bill 6, one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s legislative priorities, would have required transgender people to use bathrooms in public schools, government buildings and public universities based on “biological sex.” The measure would have preempted local nondiscrimination ordinances that allow transgender Texans to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity.
Over the course of the 140-day regular session, state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, the author of SB 6, revised the bill but the regulations related to bathroom use remained largely unchanged.
The Senate measure — and a House proposal that emerged as an alternative — ultimately did not pass during the regular legislative session.
On June 6, Gov. Greg Abbott revived the issue by announcing that bathroom regulations would be on the expansive agenda for a special session starting on July 18. On August 15, the special session concluded with no bathroom bill reaching the governor's desk.
Below is the text of SB 6 as the Senate approved it in March during the regular legislative session. We've annotated the proposal with our own context and analysis. Text with a red strikethrough are being proposed for removal from the current law; text with a green underline are additions.
relating to regulations and policies for entering or using a bathroom or changing facility; authorizing a civil penalty; increasing criminal penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; PURPOSE. The legislature finds that:
(1) in an effort to comply with the legislature's duty under Section 1, Article VII, Texas Constitution, to provide for the general diffusion of knowledge and an efficient system of public schools, potentially harmful and distracting environments should be barred;
(2) the federal government's mandate requiring Texas public schools to provide students access to restrooms, showers, and dressing rooms based on an individual student's internal sense of gender is alarming and could potentially lead to boys and girls showering together and using the same restroom should such guidance be followed;
(3) children receiving an education in Texas public schools and open-enrollment charter schools are entitled to a safe and secure learning environment, including when using intimate facilities controlled by a school; and
(4) it is the public policy of this state that residents have a reasonable expectation of privacy when using intimate facilities controlled by a school district, open-enrollment charter school, state agency, or political subdivision and that protecting the safety, welfare, and well-being of children in public schools, children in open-enrollment charter schools, and all Texas residents in intimate facilities controlled by state agencies or political subdivisions is of the utmost priority and moral obligation of this state.
This section of the bill would write into statute the reasoning Kolkhorst, the bill’s lead author, has provided to defend the legislation.
Section 2 makes reference to guidelines issued by the Obama administration in May 2016 that directed public schools to accommodate transgender students. Republicans have, in part, cited the federal guidance as a reason why the state needs a law to regulate bathroom use in public schools and other places. But those guidelines have since been rescinded by the Trump administration.
Nevertheless, Republicans have insisted that SB 6 is necessary to keep people from taking advantage of trans-inclusive policies — either at the local or federal level — for nefarious reasons. But they’ve provided virtually no evidence where that’s been the case.
SECTION 2. The heading to Chapter 250, Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 250. MISCELLANEOUS REGULATORY AUTHORITY [OF MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES]
SECTION 3. Chapter 250, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Section 250.008 to read as follows:
Sec. 250.008. REGULATIONS RELATING TO CERTAIN BATHROOM OR CHANGING FACILITIES PROHIBITED. (a) For the purposes of this section, "bathroom or changing facility" means a facility where a person may be in a state of undress, including a restroom, locker room, changing room, or shower room.
(b) A political subdivision may not adopt or enforce an order, ordinance, or other measure that relates to the designation or use of a private entity's bathroom or changing facility or that requires or prohibits the entity from adopting a policy on the designation or use of the entity's bathroom or changing facility.
This is the part of the bill that would nullify local ordinances that extend protections from discrimination to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents as they apply to bathroom use.
As of last summer, according to a Texas Tribune analysis, five Texas cities with a population of more than 100,000 had ordinances on the books offering LGBT residents some degree of protection against discrimination in employment, housing and other public areas like restaurants (and the bathrooms in those places). Seven more cities had some sort of ruleset in place to protect city employees based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
SECTION 4. Subchapter Z, Chapter 271, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Section 271.909 to read as follows:
Sec. 271.909. CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN POLICIES PROHIBITED. (a) For the purposes of this section, "bathroom or changing facility" has the meaning assigned by Section 250.008.
(b) In awarding a contract for the purchase of goods or services, a political subdivision may not consider whether a private entity competing for the contract has adopted a policy relating to the designation or use of the entity's bathroom or changing facility.
As part of their efforts to expand discrimination protections for LGBT residents, some municipalities extend nondiscrimination policies on the basis of gender identity to employees of municipal contractors.
When local governments contract with private businesses, this portion of SB 6 would prohibit them from considering whether those businesses have any policies in place related to bathroom use.
SECTION 5. Subtitle A, Title 9, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Chapter 769 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 769. PUBLIC SINGLE-SEX MULTIPLE-OCCUPANCY BATHROOMS AND CHANGING FACILITIES
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 769.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Biological sex" means the physical condition of being male or female, which is stated on a person's birth certificate.
The wording of this definition means the bill would bar a transgender individual from using the bathroom that matches their gender identity unless they’ve successfully amended their birth certificate.
In order to modify sex on a birth certificate in Texas, the Department of State Health Services requires transgender individuals to present a certified court order saying the recorded sex on a birth certificate must be changed.
LGBT advocates say there’s no statewide standardized procedure for transgender individuals to follow in seeking a court order to modify the gender marker on their birth certificate.
(2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.
This means the legislation would apply to public universities such as the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University but not private institutions such as Baylor University or Rice University.
(3) "Multiple-occupancy bathroom or changing facility" means a facility designed or designated for use by more than one person at a time, where a person may be in a state of undress in the presence of another person, regardless of whether the facility provides curtains or partial walls for privacy. The term includes a restroom, locker room, changing room, or shower room.
(4) "Open-enrollment charter school" means a school that has been granted a charter under Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Education Code.
This means the legislation would apply not only to public schools but also schools that receive state money but are independently operated by private entities or nonprofits.
(5) "Political subdivision" means a governmental entity of this state that is not a state agency and includes a county, municipality, special purpose district or authority, and junior college district. The term does not include a school district.
(6) "School district" means any public school district in this state.
(7) "Single-occupancy bathroom or changing facility" means a facility designed or designated for use by only one person at a time, where a person may be in a state of undress, including a single toilet restroom with a locking door that is designed or designated as unisex or for use based on biological sex.
(8) "State agency" means a department, commission, board, office, council, authority, or other agency in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of state government that is created by the constitution or a statute of this state, including an institution of higher education.
SUBCHAPTER B. PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Sec. 769.051. SINGLE-SEX MULTIPLE-OCCUPANCY BATHROOM OR CHANGING FACILITY. A school district or open-enrollment charter school shall require that each multiple-occupancy bathroom or changing facility accessible to students and located in a school or school facility be designated for and used only by persons based on the person's biological sex.
This is the part of the bill that would regulate bathroom use in public schools.
School districts would be required to limit the use of multi-stall bathrooms or changing rooms on the basis of biological sex, keeping transgender individuals who have not successfully amended their birth certificates from using the bathroom that matches their gender identity.
Sec. 769.052. ACCOMMODATIONS AUTHORIZED. This subchapter does not prohibit a school district or open-enrollment charter school from providing an accommodation, including a single-occupancy bathroom or changing facility or the controlled use of a faculty bathroom or changing facility, on request due to special circumstances. The school district or open-enrollment charter school may not provide an accommodation that allows a person to use a multiple-occupancy bathroom or changing facility accessible to students that is designated for the biological sex opposite to the person's biological sex.
Schools would still be allowed to provide accommodations for transgender students, such as letting them use the nurse’s restroom or other single-stall restrooms.
Some school districts already provide similar accommodations for students on a case-by-case basis. But advocates and transgender children have said this often causes children to “hold it in” for the entire school day.
Sec. 769.0525. PRIVATE LEASES AND CONTRACTS. A private entity that leases or contracts to use a building owned or leased by a school district or open-enrollment charter school is not subject to Section 769.051. A school district or open-enrollment charter school may not require the private entity to adopt, or prohibit the private entity from adopting, a policy on the designation or use of bathrooms or changing facilities located in the building.
Sec. 769.053. EXCEPTIONS. A designation of a multiple-occupancy bathroom or changing facility under Section 769.051 does not apply to a person entering a multiple-occupancy bathroom or changing facility designated for the biological sex opposite to the person's biological sex:
The bill includes a list of exceptions to its regulation of bathroom use in public schools including a provision allowing a parent to enter a school's bathroom or changing facility designated for the opposite biological sex if they are providing “assistance” to their child.
(1) for a custodial purpose;
(2) for a maintenance or inspection purpose;
(3) to render medical or other emergency assistance;
(4) to accompany a student needing assistance in using the facility, if the assisting person is:
(A) an employee or authorized volunteer of the school district or open-enrollment charter school; or
(B) the student's parent, guardian, conservator, or authorized caregiver;
(5) to accompany a person other than a student needing assistance in using the facility; or
(6) to receive assistance in using the facility.
Sec. 769.054. CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN POLICIES PROHIBITED. In awarding a contract for the purchase of goods or services, a school district or open-enrollment charter school may not consider whether a private entity competing for the contract has adopted a policy relating to the designation or use of the entity's bathrooms or changing facilities.
SUBCHAPTER C. PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Sec. 769.101. SINGLE-SEX MULTIPLE-OCCUPANCY BATHROOM OR CHANGING FACILITY. A political subdivision or state agency with control over multiple-occupancy bathrooms or changing facilities in a building owned or leased by this state or the political subdivision, as applicable, shall require that each multiple-occupancy bathroom or changing facility located in the building be designated for and used only by persons of the same biological sex.
This is the part of the bill that would regulate bathroom use in buildings overseen by governmental entities, such as counties or state agencies.
Governmental entities would be required to limit the use of multi-stall bathrooms or changing rooms on the basis of biological sex, keeping transgender individuals who have not amended their birth certificates from using the bathroom that matches their gender identity.
Sec. 769.102. ACCOMMODATIONS AUTHORIZED. This subchapter does not prohibit a political subdivision or state agency from providing an accommodation, including a single-occupancy bathroom or changing facility, on request due to special circumstances. The political subdivision or state agency may not provide an accommodation that allows a person to use a multiple-occupancy bathroom or changing facility designated for the biological sex opposite to the person's biological sex.
Governmental entities would still be allowed to provide accommodations for transgender individuals, such as letting them use single-stall restrooms.
Sec. 769.103. PRIVATE LEASES AND CONTRACTS. A private entity that leases or contracts to use a building owned or leased by this state or a political subdivision is not subject to Section 769.101. A state agency or political subdivision may not require the private entity to adopt, or prohibit the private entity from adopting, a policy on the designation or use of bathrooms or changing facilities located in the building.
This is the part of the legislation that appears to exempt stadiums, convention centers and entertainment venues that are owned or leased by a governmental entity, such as NRG Stadium in Harris County.
In theory, if a private association, business or sports league leases out a publicly owned venue, the state or local governments that oversee that venue would have no say in their bathroom policies under this provision even though SB 6 would require them to follow state bathroom policies for other public buildings.
Sec. 769.104. EXCEPTIONS. A designation of a multiple-occupancy bathroom or changing facility under Section 769.101 does not apply to:
(1) a person entering a multiple-occupancy bathroom or changing facility designated for the biological sex opposite to the person's biological sex:
(A) for a custodial purpose;
(B) for a maintenance or inspection purpose;
(C) to render medical or other emergency assistance;
(D) to accompany a person needing assistance in using the facility; or
(E) to receive assistance in using the facility; or
(2) a child who is:
(A) younger than 10 years of age entering a multiple-occupancy bathroom or changing facility designated for the biological sex opposite to the child's biological sex; and
(B) accompanying a person caring for the child.
The bill would allow a child younger than 10 years to enter a bathroom designated for the opposite "biological sex" in a public building if they're accompanied by a caregiver, such as a parent.
Sec. 769.105. CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN POLICIES PROHIBITED. In awarding a contract for the purchase of goods or services, a political subdivision or state agency may not consider whether a private entity competing for the contract has adopted a policy relating to the designation or use of the entity's bathrooms or changing facilities.
SUBCHAPTER D. ENFORCEMENT
Sec. 769.151. CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A school district, open-enrollment charter school, state agency, or political subdivision that violates this chapter is liable for a civil penalty of:
(1) not less than $1,000 and not more than $1,500 for the first violation; and
(2) not less than $10,000 and not more than $10,500 for the second or a subsequent violation.
SB 6 would impose civil penalties ranging from $1,000 to $10,500 on schools or governmental entities that do not regulate bathrooms based on biological sex. The bill would not impose any specific penalties on individuals who use a bathroom that doesn’t correspond to their biological sex.
(b) Each day of a continuing violation of this chapter constitutes a separate violation.
Sec. 769.152. COMPLAINT; NOTICE. (a) A citizen of this state may file a complaint with the attorney general that a school district, open-enrollment charter school, state agency, or political subdivision is in violation of this chapter only if:
(1) the citizen provides the school district, open-enrollment charter school, state agency, or political subdivision a written notice that describes the violation; and
(2) the school district, open-enrollment charter school, state agency, or political subdivision does not cure the violation before the end of the third business day after the date of receiving the written notice.
In order for those penalties to kick in, an individual must file a complaint with the Texas Attorney General indicating that a school district or governmental entity is violating SB 6’s bathroom policies.
But an individual must first complain directly to the school district or governmental entity about the violation. They can then file the complaint with the AG’s office if the school district or governmental entity does not properly address the issue before the end of three business days.
(b) A complaint filed under this section must include:
(1) a copy of the written notice; and
(2) the citizen's sworn statement or affidavit describing the violation and indicating that the citizen provided the notice required by this section.
Sec. 769.153. DUTIES OF ATTORNEY GENERAL: INVESTIGATION AND NOTICE. (a) Before bringing a suit against a school district, open-enrollment charter school, state agency, or political subdivision for a violation of this chapter, the attorney general shall investigate a complaint filed under Section 769.152 to determine whether legal action is warranted.
Under SB 6, the Texas Attorney General’s office would investigate bathroom policy complaints against school districts or governmental entities and decide whether to pursue related civil penalties.
(b) The school district, open-enrollment charter school, state agency, or political subdivision that is the subject of the complaint shall provide to the attorney general any information the attorney general requests in connection with the complaint, including:
(1) supporting documents related to the complaint; and
(2) a statement regarding whether the entity has complied or intends to comply with this chapter.
If the Texas Attorney General’s office does investigate a bathroom policy complaint, this section would require local governments, school districts and public universities to turn over information related to the complaint if it’s requested by the AG’s office.
This language is meant to prevent local governments or school districts from “impeding an investigation” and serve as an “advance notice” as to whether the entity is planning to correct a violation of SB 6’s bathroom policies, according to Kolkhorst, the bill author, during a March 7 committee hearing.
(c) If the attorney general determines that legal action is warranted, the attorney general shall provide the appropriate officer of the school district, open-enrollment charter school, state agency, or political subdivision charged with the violation a written notice that:
(1) describes the violation and location of the bathroom or changing facility found to be in violation;
(2) states the amount of the proposed penalty for the violation; and
(3) requires the school district, open-enrollment charter school, state agency, or political subdivision to cure the violation on or before the 15th day after the date the notice is received to avoid the penalty, unless the school district, open-enrollment charter school, state agency, or political subdivision was found liable by a court for previously violating this chapter.
If the Attorney General’s office moves forward with legal action against a local entity, it must provide that local government, school district or public university with a written notice that includes the size of the penalty it is imposing for violating SB 6. This would also trigger a 15-day window for violators to adjust their bathroom policies to be in compliance with the law.
Sec. 769.154. COLLECTION OF CIVIL PENALTY; MANDAMUS. (a) If, after receipt of notice under Section 769.153(c), the school district, open-enrollment charter school, state agency, or political subdivision has not cured the violation on or before the 15th day after the date the notice is provided under Section 769.153(c)(3), the attorney general may sue to collect the civil penalty provided by Section 769.151.
If a school district or governmental entity does not correct a violation within 15 days of being informed about it by the Attorney General’s office, the AG’s office can sue to collect civil penalties. Money collected for bathroom policy violations would go toward a crime victims fund.
(b) In addition to filing suit under Subsection (a), the attorney general may also file a petition for a writ of mandamus or apply for other appropriate equitable relief.
(c) A suit or petition under this section may be filed in a district court in:
(1) Travis County; or
(2) a county in which the principal office of the school district, open-enrollment charter school, state agency, or political subdivision is located.
(d) The attorney general may recover reasonable expenses incurred in obtaining relief under this section, including court costs, reasonable attorney's fees, investigative costs, witness fees, and deposition costs.
(e) A civil penalty collected by the attorney general under this section shall be deposited to the credit of the compensation to victims of crime fund established under Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure.
Sec. 769.155. NO CAUSE OF ACTION. (a) A school district, open-enrollment charter school, state agency, or political subdivision does not have any cause of action related to compliance with this chapter.
(b) A court of this state does not have jurisdiction over a cause of action related to compliance with this chapter brought by a school district, open-enrollment charter school, state agency, or political subdivision.
(c) On the motion of any party or the court's own motion, a court shall dismiss a cause of action related to compliance with this chapter brought by a school district, open-enrollment charter school, state agency, or political subdivision.
(d) This section does not prohibit a suit or petition by the attorney general under Section 769.154.
Under SB 6, a public entity would not have the grounds to sue the state or any person in relation to bathroom policy compliance. This is meant, in part, to preempt lawsuits by any public entities against individuals who complain to the Attorney General’s office over a violation of the bathroom policies in SB 6, according to the bill author.
An individual, including transgender individuals, would still be able to sue the state over the constitutionality of the legislation.
Sec. 769.155. SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY WAIVED. Sovereign immunity to suit is waived and abolished to the extent of liability created by this subchapter.
SECTION 6. It is the intent of the legislature that every provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or word in this Act, and every application of the provisions in this Act to each person or entity, are severable from each other. If any application of any provision in this Act to any person, group of persons, or circumstances is found by a court to be invalid for any reason, the remaining applications of that provision to all other persons and circumstances shall be severed and may not be affected.
SECTION 7. Section 250.008, Local Government Code, as added by this Act, applies to an order, ordinance, or other measure adopted before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 8. Section 271.909, Local Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a contract awarded on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
Disclosure: Rice University, Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.