Plenty of businesses already have restrooms available for customers.
Those that don't might want to spruce up their facilities a bit.
Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a bill into law this week that will require retail establishments to make their restroom facilities available to customers with qualifying medical conditions, such as Crohn's disease, or to anyone else provided that three or more employees are working and it's considered "reasonably safe" for a customer to access the restroom.
Big Gulp aficionados and parents of toddlers presumably qualify under the second provision.
The law, which takes effect in July, comes with a penalty for violators - a warning letter first followed by a fine of up to $100 - as well as instructions for the Department of Health to come up with an electronic form that will serve as proof of someone's medical condition.
Kris Tefft, AWB general counsel and government affairs director on workplace issues, said the legislation ended up as a good compromise between the groups that pushed for expanded restroom access and small firms whose owners were concerned about security.
He noted that some language was added addressing those concerns, including the requirement that a restroom must be located in an area that is reasonably safe. In addition, business owners are not required to allow access if fewer than three employees are on staff.
"It may still present a burden to some small retail establishments, but the narrow focus of the entitlement coupled with an enforcement scheme focused on education rather than punishment of violators seems to strike a balance," Tefft said.
