STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1236-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2821

S.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2821, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MENSTRUAL EQUALITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require that menstrual products be provided to all students free of charge on all public school and public charter school campuses; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the menstrual products.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Public Charter School Commission, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, American Association of University Women of Hawaii, Hawai‘i Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Rainbow Family 808, Common Cause Hawaii, Ho‘ola Lahui Hawaii, Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Dreamhouse ‘Ewa Beach, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i Education Caucus, Papa Ola Lōkahi, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawai‘i State Democratic Women's Caucus, Ma‘i Movement Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Women's Coalition, ‘Ahahui o na Kauka – Association of Native Hawaiian Physicians, Hawai‘i Diaper Bank, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Kamehameha Schools, Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, Hawai‘i Women Lawyers, Parents and Children Together, Breastfeeding Hawaii, Community Alliance on Prisons, Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Department of Education and Department of Human Services. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the lack of access to menstrual products in schools limits full participation in school, contributes to higher rates of school absenteeism and missed activities, and perpetuates gender and class inequities. Your Committee further finds that having an adequate supply of quality menstrual products available to students will prevent the extended use of products beyond the recommended time or use of alternatives, which otherwise has a direct and negative impact on student health. This measure will promote menstrual equity by providing menstrual products to all students, free of charge, on all public and charter school campuses.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2821, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair