SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1171 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1381
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Patricia D. Jehlen
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: |
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Patricia D. Jehlen | Second Middlesex |
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Rebecca L. Rausch | Norfolk, Worcester and Middlesex | 1/23/2023 |
Jack Patrick Lewis | 7th Middlesex | 1/24/2023 |
Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. | 12th Hampden | 1/26/2023 |
Thomas M. Stanley | 9th Middlesex | 1/26/2023 |
Michael J. Barrett | Third Middlesex | 1/26/2023 |
Sal N. DiDomenico | Middlesex and Suffolk | 1/30/2023 |
Patrick M. O'Connor | First Plymouth and Norfolk | 1/31/2023 |
Mark C. Montigny | Second Bristol and Plymouth | 1/31/2023 |
Kathleen R. LaNatra | 12th Plymouth | 2/1/2023 |
Jacob R. Oliveira | Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester | 2/2/2023 |
Vanna Howard | 17th Middlesex | 2/2/2023 |
Brian M. Ashe | 2nd Hampden | 2/3/2023 |
Manny Cruz | 7th Essex | 2/7/2023 |
James K. Hawkins | 2nd Bristol | 2/8/2023 |
Lydia Edwards | Third Suffolk | 2/13/2023 |
John F. Keenan | Norfolk and Plymouth | 2/14/2023 |
James B. Eldridge | Middlesex and Worcester | 2/16/2023 |
Adam Gomez | Hampden | 2/23/2023 |
Liz Miranda | Second Suffolk | 3/8/2023 |
Brendan P. Crighton | Third Essex | 3/14/2023 |
Edward J. Kennedy | First Middlesex | 4/24/2023 |
Jason M. Lewis | Fifth Middlesex | 5/1/2023 |
Anne M. Gobi | Worcester and Hampshire | 5/2/2023 |
John J. Cronin | Worcester and Middlesex | 5/31/2023 |
Paul W. Mark | Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire | 5/31/2023 |
Robyn K. Kennedy | First Worcester | 5/31/2023 |
Joan B. Lovely | Second Essex | 7/21/2023 |
Susan L. Moran | Plymouth and Barnstable | 7/27/2023 |
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1171 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1381
By Ms. Jehlen, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1381) of Patricia D. Jehlen, Rebecca L. Rausch, Jack Patrick Lewis, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. and other members of the General Court for legislation to increase access to disposable menstrual products. Public Health. |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2730 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 23B of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 31. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
“Disposable menstrual products”, products used by a menstruating individual including, but not limited to, sanitary napkins, tampons and underwear liners.
“Menstruating individual”, a person who menstruates.
(b) Any provider of temporary housing assistance, including, but not be limited to, a family shelter, a shelter for adults, a hotel used for emergency shelter, an emergency apartment, a domestic violence shelter, a runaway and homeless youth shelter or a safe house for refugees, shall provide disposable menstrual products at no cost to a menstruating individual. The disposable menstrual products shall be available in a convenient manner that does not stigmatize the individual seeking such products.
SECTION 2. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 3 the following section:-
Section 3A. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:-
“Disposable menstrual products”, products used by a menstruating individual including, but not limited to, sanitary napkins, tampons and underwear liners.
“Menstruating individual”, a person who menstruates.
(b) Every primary and secondary school shall provide disposable menstrual products at no cost to students. The disposable menstrual products shall be available in a convenient manner that does not stigmatize the individual seeking such products, including, but not limited to, in restrooms for menstruating individuals.
SECTION 3. Chapter 127 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 170. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
“Administrator”, the keeper of a lock-up facility under chapter 40, the superintendent of a correctional facility under chapter 125, a sheriff or special sheriff in charge of a jail, house of correction or regional lock-up facility under chapter 126, the colonel of state police and any other official who oversees a facility used for the detention of persons arrested and held in custody or serving a sentence.
“Disposable menstrual products”, products used by a menstruating individual including, but not limited to, sanitary napkins, tampons and underwear liners.
“Menstruating individual”, a person who menstruates.
(b) The administrator shall provide disposable menstrual products to menstruating individuals held or housed in the facility overseen by the administrator at no cost. The disposable menstrual products shall be available in a convenient manner that does not stigmatize the individual seeking such products.