Item 8: Draft Recommendation — original pdf

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A RECOMMENDATION REQUESTING CITY COUNCIL TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE RESTROOM ACCESS POLICY FOR CITY-OWNED AND CITY-LEASED FACILITIES THAT ENSURES SAFETY, DIGNITY, PRIVACY, AND RESPECT FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS WHILE COMPLYING WITH STATE LAW; TO EXPAND SINGLE-STALL ALL-GENDER RESTROOMS WITH CLEAR SIGNAGE; TO REQUIRE INCLUSIVE DESIGN IN NEW CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATIONS; TO MANDATE STAFF TRAINING ON INCLUSIVITY AND DE-ESCALATION; TO PROHIBIT HARASSMENT AND INVASIVE ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES; AND TO ESTABLISH COORDINATED IMPLEMENTATION, REPORTING, AND ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES. ⸻ WHEREAS, Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 8 (SB 8), also known as the "Texas Women's Privacy Act," into law on September 22, 2025. The law restricts bathroom usage in government-owned buildings and public schools based on sex assigned at birth and is scheduled to take effect on December 4, 2025, applying to all state agencies, public universities, local governments, and public educational institutions, including K-12 schools; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and safe environment for all residents, workers, and visitors, including transgender, gender non- conforming, nonbinary, and Two-Spirit individuals, building on existing non-discrimination policies enforced by the Office of Equity & Inclusion (OEI); and WHEREAS, guidance from leading civil-rights organizations emphasizes the importance of affirming all-gender restrooms, clear and inclusive signage, staff training, and departmental accountability to ensure safety, dignity, and compliance with applicable laws; and ⸻ NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Advisory Commission recommends that the City Council direct the City Manager to develop and implement a comprehensive restroom access policy for city- owned and city-leased facilities that ensures privacy, safety, dignity, and respect for all individuals while complying with state law. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: The LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Advisory Commission recommends that City Council require the policy, at minimum: (1) the expansion of single-stall, all-gender restrooms with clear, inclusive signage that avoids gendered labels and promotes universal access; (2) that all new construction, renovations, updates, and City-owned or City-leased facilities shall provide single-stall, all-gender restrooms as a standard design feature for harm reduction, privacy, and safety, consistent with applicable building codes; (3) mandatory staff training on inclusivity, de-escalation, and respectful engagement; and (4) a prohibition on harassment and any invasive or discriminatory enforcement practices, including attempted verification of a person's anatomy, gender, or gender identity. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: The LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Advisory Commission recommends that City Council direct the Austin Police Department (APD) to update its General Orders within forty-five (45) days to reflect this policy, with an emphasis on respect, privacy, de- escalation, and human dignity. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: The LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Advisory Commission recommends that City Council direct APD, OEI, and the County and City Attorney's Office to jointly develop a coordinated response plan within forty-five (45) days for any incidents related to restroom access, including respectful engagement protocols, anonymized data tracking, and legal review. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: The LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Advisory Commission recommends that City Council require that incidents related to restroom access shall be documented, including anonymized SOGIE data aggregated for privacy, and reported in aggregate to the City Attorney's Office, with oversight by OEI and APD to ensure accountability and compliance, and shall be incorporated into annual equity reports to the City Council in alignment with OEI protocols. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT: The LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Advisory Commission recommends that City Council directs the City Manager to collaborate with the Austin LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Commission, the Public Safety Commission, and community stakeholders—including through at least one public input session—to refine this plan and shall present progress updates to the City Council within ninety (90) days, including an implementation schedule and reporting template. ⸻ Sponsored by: [Commissioner Name(s)] Date Approved by Commission: [Insert Date]