The Right to Sanitary Restrooms in a Public Place

Rebecca Galvan
Panola College

Government 2306
March 13, 2013

The Texas Constitution has many provisions such as the right to a speedy trial, free speech, and the right to assemble peacefully. It carries the right for the state to lend loans to businesses for the good of the economy. What about businesses that won’t ask for help from the state to fix their business? Have you ever thought about the tiny places that we use to go to to the restroom and how disgusting they can be? Well I have, and I think that something should be done about this. When a business has the money to have a modern and clean indoor area, why is it that the bathrooms don’t say the same? Even with Sec. 52-a. Loan or Grant of Public Money for Economic Development, we need to add some specifics to this amendment. Article 3 Sec. 52-a. states that the Legislature may provide for creation of programs and making of loans an grant of public money, other than money otherwise dedicated by this constitution to use for a different purpose, for the public purposes of development and diversification of the economy of the state…or the development or expansion of transportation of commerce in the state. While I understand the provisions of Article 3 Sec. 50 Loan or Pledge of Credit of State, which states that legislature shall have no power to give or to lend, or to authorize the giving or ending, of the credit of the state in aid of, or to any person, association or corporation, whether municipal or other, or to pledge the credit of the State in any manner whatsoever, for the payment of the liabilities, present or prospective…association of individual, municipal or other corporation whatsoever. In other words, legislature cannot pledge complete support to help a business or cause economically using its own funds.
So how do we solve the greatest excuse that most businesses make saying that they don’t have the extra money to remodel or fix-up their “public” restrooms. We should make this an obligation before the business is even opened and keep a constant inspection of restroom condition. Though the opposing views say that this should not be made a huge deal of because they are in fact the results of unsanitary habits in public restrooms by those who use them- and the owners are not to blame. Other views are that such a regulation doe exit within the major regulations of the 1845 Bill of Rights of the Texas Constitution, like the right to free speech and press. Through which someone could file a complaint if they “wanted to “, but believe me Americans can tell some horrible stories of gross public restroom experiences. Some would argue that it’s none of the state’s business how they upkeep their businesses, such as gas stations, supermarkets, or even game stadiums.
Shouldn’t we be pleased about making our state a more pleasant place to live, in any way possible? It should be part of our mission of “keeping Texas purtty”. My proposal for the 468 Amendment Sec. 1. shall state, the legislature shall not be held responsible for the low standards of public maintenance, restrooms, and other lavatory public place of use. Accused hall answer to local officers of the law and be charged a fine of $2,000 for unsanitary standards and hazardous conditions. This could be a difficult amendment to be taken seriously; here is a good example of reasoning behind my decision. The second major issue occupying much of the time during the first session was the question of dividing the state, even though the governor had urged the delegates not to consider the question. For political and economic reasons, there was strong support from division. West Texans believed that Galveston and Houston dominated the states politics and its government and that only division would relieve them from that control. From this we can see that most people would see no reason for to pass a law, bur the obvious answer to this is known that the only way