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January 21, 2008

When you gotta go …

In a week that saw the governor unveil major budget changes, let’s not forget the introduction of another, ahem, explosive bill last week.

The Restroom Access Act of 2008 would require retail businesses to allow customers with medical conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease to use the restroom, even if it is not open to the public.

Patients suffering from those ailments would be required to carry a card proving their medical condition and produce it when requesting to use the bathroom.

Sponsor Deborah Fellela, D-Johnston, said she got the idea for her “bathroom bill” when a local gastroenterologist told her that patients suffering from gastrointestinal troubles routinely get rejected when asking to use the restroom in emergency situations.

Fellela knows the bill is bound to be the butt of a few jokes from her colleagues at the General Assembly, but — bad puns aside — she believes it’s an important step for those in need.

“It’s not going to cost a lot of money; the facilities are already there,” Fellela said. “It might be a little inconvenient, but if it helps a person out and it doesn’t have a fiscal impact, then I think it’s a good thing.”

Posted by Pam Cotter  at 9:26 AM | Permalink

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