State of South Dakota
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NINETY-FIRST SESSION LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, 2016 |
848X0115 | HOUSE BILL NO. 1008 |
Introduced by: Representatives Deutsch, Craig, Novstrup (Al), Partridge, Russell,
Schoenbeck, Verchio, and Zikmund and Senators Greenfield (Brock),
Haverly, Holien, Olson, and Otten (Ernie)
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FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to restrict access to certain restrooms and locker rooms in
public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. That chapter 13-24 be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. That chapter 13-24 be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:
The term, biological sex, as used in this Act, means the physical condition of being male or
female as determined by a person's chromosomes and identified at birth by a person's anatomy.
Section 2. That the code be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:
Section 2. That the code be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:
Every restroom, locker room, and shower room located in a public elementary or secondary
school that is designated for student use and is accessible by multiple students at the same time
shall be designated for and used only by students of the same biological sex. In addition, any
public school student participating in a school sponsored activity off school premises which
includes being in a state of undress in the presence of other students shall use those rooms
designated for and used only by students of the same biological sex.
Section 3. That the code be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:
Section 3. That the code be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:
If any student asserts that the student's gender is different from the student's biological sex,
and if the student's parent or guardian consents to that assertion in writing to a public school
administrator, or if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor and makes the assertion in
writing to a public school administrator, the student shall be provided with a reasonable
accommodation. A reasonable accommodation is one that does not impose an undue hardship
on a school district. A reasonable accommodation may not include the use of student restrooms,
locker rooms, or shower rooms designated for use by students of the opposite biological sex if
students of the opposite biological sex are present or could be present. A reasonable
accommodation may include a single-occupancy restroom, a unisex restroom, or the controlled
use of a restroom, locker room, or shower room that is designated for use by faculty. The
requirement to provide a reasonable accommodation pursuant to this section does not apply to
any nonpublic school entity.
Section 4. That the code be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:
Section 4. That the code be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:
If any public school district, school district officer or employee, school board, or school
board member is sued in state or federal court as a result of a decision based upon and consistent
with a student's biological sex, notwithstanding any assertion that the student's gender is
different than the student's biological sex, the attorney general shall represent the school district,
school district officer or employee, school board, or school board member at no cost to the
school district, school district officer or employee, school board, or school board member, and
the State of South Dakota shall assume all financial responsibility for the legal expenses. The
legal expenses for which the state is responsible include any award for monetary damages or
attorneys' fees and costs which may be awarded and for which the school district, school district
officer or employee, school board, or school board member would otherwise be responsible.