2007 House Bill 5046 (Require retailers let certain customers use restroom )

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Public Act 469 of 2008

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Introduced by Rep. Andy Meisner (D) on July 24, 2007, to require retail establishments that have employee-only restrooms to allow a customer to use the restroom if the person shows a copy of a statement on a prescription form that indicates he or she suffers from Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, any other inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or any other medical condition that requires immediate access to a toilet.
- Referred to the House Commerce Committee on July 24, 2007.
  - Reported in the House on September 5, 2007, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
- Substitute offered in the House on September 11, 2007, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described. The substitute passed in the House by voice vote on September 11, 2007.
- Amendment offered by Rep. Barb Byrum (D) on September 11, 2007, to include pregnancy among the conditions that would require an establishment to allow a member of the public to use their restroom. The amendment passed in the House (104 to 2) on September 11, 2007. [Vote Details and Comments]
Passed in the House (72 to 35) on October 3, 2007, to require retail establishments that have employee-only restrooms to allow a customer to use the restroom if the person shows a copy of a statement on a prescription form that indicates he or she suffers from Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, any other inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or any other medical condition that requires immediate access to a toilet, or is pregnant. [Vote Details and Comments]
Received in the Senate on October 9, 2007.
- Referred to the Senate Commerce & Tourism Committee on October 9, 2007.
  - Reported in the Senate on September 17, 2008, with the recommendation that the bill pass.
Passed in the Senate (24 to 7) on December 19, 2008, to require retail establishments that have employee-only restrooms to allow a customer to use the restroom if the person shows a copy of a statement on a prescription form that indicates he or she suffers from Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, any other inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or any other medical condition that requires immediate access to a toilet, or is pregnant. [Vote Details and Comments]
Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on January 9, 2009.

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1) Research what it means to have IBD [by Anonymous Citizen on October 6, 2008]
The reason why AMerica is suffering is because we have unintelligent people arguing for the sake of arguing. A bill wouldn't be passed if the restroom issue was not a problem amongst people suffering from these terrible conditions. Living a normal life under these horrible and embarassing diseases is no walk in the park. It destroys any hope of a normal life. I myself have Ulcerative Colitis and worry constantly about going shopping without using the bathroom. It;s so funny to me that people are calling this bill stupid. WHy don't they see how difficult it is to live with such a horrible condition and than we'll see if they still fight against the bill. They obvioulsy have no clue what it's like.
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2) They should take it further [by Anonymous Citizen on September 18, 2008]
Perhaps if more of the "typical" businesses were required to have restrooms available to the general public then there would be less need to make "all" businesses have restrooms available for "special needs individuals- by the way, who wants to go to the doctor to get a "bathroom pass".

I want to know why EVERY retail style business with a bathroom is not required to make it available to the public- ESPECIALLY gas stations- they sell 50 oz big gulps- but you can't use the restroom!! Seriously. I have children and sometimes they don't know until the last minute that they need to go. Or worse yet, when we are on a road trip and I go to fill up and they don't have a public restroom. I have even gone so far as to yell back out the front door of the gas station and tell my husband to stop pumping gas because they won't let my crying child use the bathroom.

It might sound like I'm ranting but I once had an afternoon in Ann Arbor where I went to 3 gas stations AND a KFC with a screaming child and finally made it to a McDonald's but by then he had wet his pants. It's absolutely ridiculous! I've bordered on being violent with the gas station owners.

If an establishment sells food and drink (even packaged) they should have a restroom available for public use. Where else do they expect you to go??
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3) Outraged at the cruelty [by Anonymous Citizen on July 23, 2008]
“I Know 3 People with crohns. They tell me that this is a non issue and sounds like someone just wants to feel special.”

The plural of 'anecdote' is not 'data.'

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