S-0718.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5415

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Senators Kohl, Wood, McAuliffe, Drew, Roach, Prentice, Fairley, Franklin and Bauer

Read first time 01/23/95.  Referred to Committee on Transportation.

Requiring a policy to accommodate attendants assisting disabled persons at roadside safety rest areas.

    AN ACT Relating to roadside safety rest areas; and adding a new section to chapter 47.38 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 47.38 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The department shall develop a policy for the use of restroom facilities at roadside safety rest areas by disabled travelers at those locations on state highways that have separate restroom facilities for disabled persons.  The policy shall permit a disabled person to be accompanied in the restroom by his or her attendant, who may be a person of the opposite gender, to assist the disabled person.

    (2) The policy shall provide for the design and placement of special signs at the roadside safety rest area clearly indicating that it is permissible for a person of the opposite gender to accompany a disabled person into the restroom to assist the disabled person.

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