California Gender-Neutral Restroom Bill Heads To Governor

SACRAMENTO (AP) — California's Democratic governor will have to decide whether to require all single-stall toilets in the state to be gender neutral.

The Assembly gave final approval Monday to the Democratic proposal on a 53-13 vote. It passed one day after a federal court temporarily blocked an order by President Barack Obama requiring public schools to let students use bathrooms of their gender identity.

California students can already do so under a law Gov. Jerry Brown signed in 2013.

AB1732 would mandate businesses and government facilities display non-gender-specific signs on single-occupant restrooms by March 1, 2017.

Assemblyman Phil Ting of San Francisco wrote the bill amid a national debate over transgender rights. He says his legislation is also intended to help parents and caregivers.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.