Bill > A1984

Introduced Session

This bill requires public institutions of higher education to ensure that students and staff have direct access to menstrual products, free of charge, in all public women's restrooms and public all-gender restrooms, and in at least one public men's restroom in all campus buildings, including, but not limited to, lecture halls, residence halls, dining halls, libraries, student centers, athletics buildings, and administrative buildings. For purposes of this bill, "menstrual products" mean tampons and sanitary napkins for use in connection with the menstrual cycle. Under the bill, public institutions of higher education are required to supply students and staff with a variety of menstrual products, including tampons and sanitary napkins graded regular through super-plus, sanitary napkins ranging from ultra-thin to overnight, and tampons and sanitary napkins that are allergy-friendly, including chlorine-free, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free menstrual products. Also under the bill, institutions will be required to install menstrual product dispensers in all public women's restrooms and public all-gender restrooms, and in at least one public men's restroom in all campus buildings. Institutions will not be required to replace any existing dispensers, as long as menstrual products in the dispensers may be accessed by students and staff free of charge. Institutions may contract with a vendor who will regularly maintain and stock dispensers. The bill also requires that institutions provide educational pamphlets addressing a variety of topics, including the symptoms of toxic shock syndrome and of menstrual disorders, as well as the proper disposal of tampons and sanitary napkins. Institutions will also be required, when feasible, to display posters highlighting proper menstrual hygiene. This bill appropriates $85,000 to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education for the provision of menstrual products and educational pamphlets in public institutions of higher education. Any costs incurred by an institution in complying with the provisions of this bill will be borne by the State. At the close of the fiscal year, institutions shall submit expenditures with supporting documentation for reimbursement.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Reginald Atkins (D)*,  Linda Carter (D)*,  Shanique Speight (D)*,  Shama Haider (D),  Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D),  Gabriel Rodriguez (D), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document