Bill > HB273

This bill, titled the "Women's Safety and Protection Act," aims to ensure privacy and safety by requiring single-sex spaces in certain public facilities. It defines key terms such as "domestic violence shelter" (a place for victims of abuse, sexual conduct, or stalking), "juvenile detention facility" (a secure facility for individuals under eighteen), "multiple occupancy restroom or changing room" (areas where multiple people can be undressed simultaneously, like restrooms or locker rooms), "public school" (including charter schools), and "sleeping quarters" (rooms with multiple beds for overnight stays). The act generally permits distinctions between sexes in accommodations where biology, safety, or privacy are relevant, provided these distinctions are substantially related to protecting health, safety, and privacy. Specifically, domestic violence shelters, public schools, and juvenile detention facilities must designate sleeping quarters and multiple occupancy restrooms or changing rooms for the exclusive use of either females or males. Reasonable accommodations, such as single-occupancy areas, must be provided for individuals unwilling or unable to use spaces designated for their sex, but these accommodations cannot involve allowing access to opposite-sex areas when members of the opposite sex are present. Exceptions are made for authorized personnel, medical assistance, law enforcement, emergency situations, and young children accompanying an adult caretaker. The bill also clarifies that these provisions do not prevent facilities from adopting policies to accommodate individuals with disabilities as protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=273&year=26