Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §4553, sub-§5-B is enacted to read:

5-B.__Fitness center.__"Fitness center" means an establishment, whether operated for profit or not for profit, that provides as its primary purpose services or facilities that are purported to assist patrons in physical exercise, in weight control or in figure development.__"Fitness center" does not include an organization offering training or facilities only for an individual sport or a weight reduction center.

Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §4553, sub-§8, ķI, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 393, §7, is amended to read:

I. A park, zoo, amusement park, race course, skating rink, fair, bowling alley, golf course, golf club, country club, gymnasium, health spa, shooting gallery, billiard or pool parlor, swimming pool, seashore accommodation or boardwalk or other place of recreation, exercise or health, except that "place of public accommodation" does not include a fitness center;

Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §4553, sub-§11 is enacted to read:

11.__Weight reduction center.__"Weight reduction center" means an establishment that provides as its primary purpose instruction, supervision or counseling for diet or weight loss or maintenance and does not provide physical exercise services on the premises.

SUMMARY

This bill provides an exception to the law prohibiting discrimination in places of public accommodation to permit a fitness center to provide facilities and services exclusively to persons of one sex.