Alabama is possibly wading into the transgender restroom debate with a Senate bill from an Etowah County lawmaker.

Sponsored by Republican Sen. Phil Williams, the bill will become the Alabama Privacy Act if it clears the Senate and House and gains the signature of Gov. Robert Bentley. A synopsis of the bill shows it would impose requirements of any person or entity, such as a business, that maintains public rest rooms, bathrooms and changing facilities regarding privacy and the gender of the persons admitted.

Senate Bill 1 could become locked down in debate or pass without much comment. No one seems to know within the Legislature. However,

several organizations are concerned passage of the bill will plunge Alabama into economic calamity, resembling fallout North Carolina suffered with a similar bill. Among the concerned groups are the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, the Business Council of Alabama, the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance and the Coastal Alabama Partnership.

Williams reports his bill will only affect businesses that have outlined official transgender-friendly bathroom policies that allow anyone, no matter their gender, to use any restroom at any time. He also contends businesses and entities that have not outlined any official policies or entities that have single-stall gender-neutral restrooms won’t be affected by the bill’s passage.

The bill states entities that have restrooms, bathrooms or changing facilities that are designed to be used by multiple individuals at once, “irrespective of their gender,” must have those restrooms “staffed by an attendant stationed at the door of each restroom to monitor the appropriate use of the restroom and answer any questions or concerns by users.”

State Sen. Paul Bussman, R-Republican, said he expects the bill to be discussed during the session and said misinformation about the intent of the proposal has been circulated.

“I don’t think anyone is going to be guarding the door,” Bussman said. “Each person has a right to privacy, even if you are on the transgender side. I know Sen. Williams and he’s a pro-business lawmaker and doesn’t have the intent of hurting business.”

Bussman said the bill will be watched closely because amendments could come along that get attached and alter the purpose of the effort.

“Yes, you have to look at any bill closely and let everyone ask questions,” Bussman said.

North Carolina, with huge business investments and professional sports teams, made national news and reportedly lost millions of dollars because of how its legislation was perceived. Texas is also looking at a transgender restroom bill this year.