A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ENACTING THE "SOUTH CAROLINA STUDENT PHYSICAL PRIVACY ACT" BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 TO CHAPTER 23, TITLE 59 SO AS TO PROVIDE VARIOUS MEASURES TO PROMOTE AND ENSURE PRIVACY AMONG SEXES USING CERTAIN RESTROOMS AND CHANGING FACILITIES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

 

SECTION 1.  This act may be cited as the "South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act."

 

SECTION 2.  Chapter 23, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

Article 5

 

Student Physical Privacy

 

    Section 59-23-510. As used in this article:

 

       (1) "Changing facility" means a facility in which a person may be in a state of undress in the presence of others, including a locker room, changing room, or shower room.

       (2) "Restroom" means a facility that includes one or more toilets or urinals.

       (3) "Sex" means a person's biological sex, either male or female, as observed or clinically verified at birth.

       (4) "Sleeping quarters" means a room with a bed in which more than one individual is housed overnight.

       (5) "Female" means  an individual who naturally has, had, or would have, but for a congenital anomaly or intentional or unintentional disruption, the reproductive system that at some point produces, transports, and utilizes eggs for fertilization.

       (6) "Male" means an individual who naturally has, had, or would have, but for a congenital anomaly or intentional or unintentional disruption, the reproductive system that at some point produces, transports, and utilizes sperm for fertilization.

       (7) "Multioccupancy" means a space designed for use by multiple persons simultaneously.

 

 

    Section 59-23-520. A public school district may not permit any public school within the district to use any funds to maintain or operate any restroom or changing facility on its premises that is not in compliance with this article or facilitate any public school-authorized activity or event involving overnight lodging that is not in compliance with this article. A public school district that violates any portion of this article must be penalized twenty-five percent of the funds appropriated by this article that are used to support the school district's operations.

 

 

    Section 59-23-530. A public institution of higher learning may not use any funds to maintain or operate any restroom or changing facility on its premises that is not in compliance with this article or facilitate any institution-authorized activity or event involving overnight lodging that is not in compliance with this article. A public institution of higher learning that violates any portion of this article must be penalized twenty-five percent of the funds appropriated by this article that are used to support the institution's operations.

 

 

    Section 59-23-540. (A) Multioccupancy public school or public institution of higher learning restrooms and changing facilities must be designated for use only by members of one sex. Any public school or public institution of higher learning restrooms and changing facilities that are designated for one sex must be used only by members of that sex. No person may enter a restroom or changing facility that is designated for one sex unless he or she is a member of that sex; and the public school or public institution of higher learning with authority over that building shall take reasonable steps to ensure that all restrooms and changing facilities provide its users with privacy from members of the opposite sex. The provisions in this item do not apply:

       (1) to custodial or maintenance work when the restroom or changing facility is not being used or otherwise occupied by a member of the opposite sex;

       (2) to provide coaching or athletic training during athletic events by coaching staff in changing rooms when no individual is in a state of undress;

       (3) to a person or people rendering medical assistance; and

       (4) during a natural disaster, emergency, or when use of the restroom or changing facility is necessary to prevent a serious threat to good order or student safety.

    (B) During any public school or public institution of higher learning-authorized activity or event where students share overnight lodging, no student may be required to share a sleeping quarter or multioccupancy restroom with a member of the opposite sex, unless such persons are members of the same family, such as a parent, legal guardian, sibling, or grandparent.

    (C) In any other public school or public institution of higher learning facility or setting where a person may be in a state of undress in the presence of others, school personnel shall provide separate, private areas designated for use by persons based on their sex, and no person may enter these private areas unless he or she is a member of the designated sex.

    (D) A public institution of higher learning that offers housing for student residents must provide students the option to be housed only with persons of the same sex.

 

 

    Section 59-23-550. (A) An individual who, while accessing a restroom or changing facility designated for use by their sex, encounters a person of the opposite sex in that restroom or changing facility, has a private cause of action for declaratory and injunctive relief against the public school or public institution of higher learning that:

       (1) provided the person permission to use a restroom or changing facility of the opposite sex; or

       (2) failed to take reasonable steps to prohibit the person of the opposite sex from using the restroom or changing facility of the opposite sex.

    (B) An individual required by the public school or public institution of higher learning to share sleeping quarters with a person of the opposite sex has a private cause of action for declaratory and injunctive relief against the offending public school or public institution of higher learning.

    (C) All civil action brought pursuant to this section must be initiated within two years after the violation occurred. An individual aggrieved under this section who prevails in court may recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the offending public school or public institution of higher learning.

 

 

    Section 59-23-560. Nothing in this article may be construed to prohibit schools or public institutions of higher learning from adopting policies necessary to accommodate disabled persons or young children in need of physical assistance when using restrooms or changing facilities.

 

SECTION 3.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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