SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 1659

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 30, 2025

      The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 1659.

     This bill requires each school district to incorporate instruction on menstrual toxic shock syndrome in grades four through 12 as part of the district’s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.  The bill directs the Commissioner of Education to provide school districts with age-appropriate sample learning activities and resources designed to implement this requirement.

     This bill also requires the owner of a group A or M occupancy, that maintains a public restroom available for use by women, to ensure the installation and maintenance of a sign in the restroom alerting women to the warning signs, causes, and dangers of menstrual toxic shock syndrome.  This requirement only applies to restrooms that include two or more toilets.

     The bill also requires the Department of Health to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the bill.  The bill requires the menstrual toxic shock syndrome signs to be installed in the necessary restrooms on or before the first day of the sixth month following the adoption of rules and regulations by the department.

Under the bill, “group A or M occupancy” means an Assembly Group A occupancy or a Mercantile Group M occupancy, as defined in the most recently adopted New Jersey International Building Code.  Under the bill, locations within elementary schools that do not include grades above grade five are excluded from the “group A or M occupancy” definition.

     Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Health to prepare and make available on its website informational literature concerning the signs, causes, and dangers of menstrual toxic shock syndrome.

     This bill is intended to enhance public awareness of menstrual toxic shock syndrome, a potentially serious illness that can develop quickly.  Women that use tampons and similar devices have a higher risk of contracting menstrual toxic shock syndrome.  Early symptoms may include a low fever, muscle aches, chills, fatigue, and headaches.  As menstrual toxic shock syndrome progresses, symptoms may include a high fever, vomiting, rashes, redness of the eyes, lips and tongue, low blood pressure, and mental confusion.  Menstrual toxic shock syndrome is generally treated with antibiotics.

     This bill is in honor of Madalyn “Maddy” Massabni, who tragically passed away on March 30, 2017, just days after contracting menstrual toxic shock syndrome.  Maddy was a 2016 graduate of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School and was just beginning her academic career at Lynn University in Florida.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.