AR HB1959

Requires retail establishments with employee restrooms to allow customers with eligible medical conditions (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, or other chronic conditions requiring immediate restroom access) to use employee facilities during normal business hours upon presenting physician-issued documentation.

Access is limited to when 3 or more employees are working, no public restroom is immediately accessible, the restroom location poses no obvious health/safety/security risk, and the establishment does not normally make restrooms available to the public.

Provides liability protection for retail establishments and employees when allowing qualifying customers to use non-public employee restrooms in areas not generally accessible to the public.

Allows retail establishments to deny access by posting "No Public Restroom" signs (one-inch letters or larger within one foot of entrance) if they cannot comply due to safety, security, insurance requirements, or valid proprietor reasons.

Requires municipalities and counties that issue business licenses or permits to incorporate this restroom access requirement into their regulatory codes and notify licensees and permittees of obligations when licenses or permits are issued or renewed.