§5-32-5. Safety and privacy in domestic violence shelters.

(a) To ensure the privacy and safety of women in domestic violence shelters, each such shelter shall:

(1) Designate sleeping quarters and multiple occupancy restrooms or changing rooms:

(A) For the exclusive use of females; or

(B) For the exclusive use of males; and

(2) Provide a reasonable accommodation to an individual who is unwilling or unable to use sleeping quarters or a multiple occupancy restroom or changing room designated for such individual's sex.

(A) A reasonable accommodation under this paragraph may include, but shall not necessarily be limited to, allowing such individual to access a single-occupancy sleeping area, restroom, or changing area.

(B) A reasonable accommodation under this paragraph shall not include allowing such individual to access a single-occupancy sleeping area or sleeping quarters, restroom, or changing area that is designated for use by members of the opposite sex while members of the opposite sex of the individual are present or may be present in the single-occupancy sleeping area or sleeping quarters, restroom, or changing area.

(b) This section shall not be construed or applied to prohibit an individual from entering a multiple occupancy restroom or changing room or sleeping quarters designated for the opposite sex when he or she enters such area for one of the following reasons:

(1) For authorized custodial, maintenance, or inspection purposes;

(2) To render medical assistance;

(3) To render assistance by law enforcement;

(4) To provide services or render aid during a natural disaster, a declared emergency, or when necessary to prevent a serious threat to good order or safety; or

(5) For young children, to accompany an adult caretaker.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a domestic violence shelter from adopting policies necessary to accommodate persons protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq., as amended.