Bill > S08498

This bill amends the social services law to require temporary shelter providers reimbursed by state grants to provide free menstrual products (such as sanitary napkins, tampons, and panty liners) to individuals in need. The bill expands the definition of "temporary shelter" to explicitly include drop-in centers, intake shelters, and emergency congregate housing, in addition to previously covered shelters like family shelters, domestic violence shelters, and runaway youth shelters. The bill provides specific definitions for these new types of shelters: a drop-in center is a facility offering services like meals, showers, and employment referrals without overnight housing; an intake center is a facility where individuals apply for shelter; and emergency congregate housing refers to locations where individuals and families reside for more than 96 continuous hours in a shared living environment, with the important caveat that it does not include facilities operated by the department of social services or its contracted providers. By mandating the provision of menstrual products, the bill aims to ensure that individuals experiencing homelessness or seeking shelter have access to essential hygiene products at no cost.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8498