STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1187

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.C.R. No. 178

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 178 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE FREE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS TO STUDENTS ON ALL HAWAII PUBLIC SCHOOL CAMPUSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Education to provide free menstrual products to students on all Hawaii public school campuses.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, Gender Sexuality Alliance of ‘Ilima Intermediate School, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Going Home Hawaii, Ma‘i Movement Hawai‘i, AF3IRM Hawaii, I Support The Girls Hawaii, HawaiiKidsCAN, Hawaiʿi Health & Harm Reduction Center, Breastfeeding Hawaii, HI Student Care Resources, Hawai‘i Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that according to the nationwide survey conducted by Always of Proctor and Gamble, since the pandemic, one out of three parents are worried about their ongoing ability to afford menstrual products. Your Committee further finds that a 2016 New York City pilot program found that access to free menstrual products in public schools increased attendance by 2.4 percent, leading to a package of legislation providing free access to menstrual products for New York City's students. This measure requests the Department of Education to do the same in Hawaii's public schools.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 178 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair