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California lawmakers OK gender-neutral restrooms

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California Gov. Jerry Brown will have to decide whether to require all single-stall toilets in the state to be gender neutral.

The state 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 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.