Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman AURA K. DUNN
District 25 (Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Requires public libraries to provide free menstrual hygiene products and requires State to pay costs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the provision of menstrual hygiene products in certain libraries and supplementing chapter 74 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this act, “menstrual hygiene products” mean tampons and sanitary napkins for use in connection with the menstrual cycle.
b. A municipality or county that supports, in whole or in part, library service from municipal or county tax sources pursuant to chapter 33 or 54 of Title 40 of the Revised Statutes shall ensure that each library in the municipality or county provides direct access to menstrual hygiene products in each women’s restroom and each all-gender restroom free of charge.
c. Any costs incurred by a library in providing an adequate supply of menstrual hygiene products to meet the needs of its patrons pursuant to this section shall be borne by the State.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires certain public libraries to provide free menstrual hygiene products in its restrooms. Under the bill, a municipality or county that supports, in whole or in part, library service from municipal or county tax sources is required to ensure that each library in the municipality or county provides direct access to menstrual hygiene products in each women’s restroom and each all-gender restroom free of charge.
Under the bill, any costs incurred by a library in providing an adequate supply of menstrual hygiene products to meet the needs of its patrons will be borne by the State.