SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2611

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 4, 2024

     The Senate Higher Education Committee reports favorably a Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 2611.

     This committee substitute requires each public institution of higher education to convene a menstrual equity task force. 

      Under the substitute, the president of each public institution of higher education is required to convene a menstrual equity task force.  The purpose of the task force is to further advance the institution’s efforts towards achieving menstrual equity.  

     The substitute requires members of the task force to be appointed by the president of the institution.  Members are to include a cross-section of campus stakeholders including, as applicable, representatives of: the student body; faculty and staff; administration; student housing; athletics; student health centers; on-campus food pantries or similar resources; and facilities management. 

     The substitute requires that, no later than six months after the substitute’s effective date, the task force is to submit to its president a comprehensive and sustainable plan towards achieving menstrual equity on campus that is best suited to the needs of the institution.  The plan is to include, but need not be limited to:

     (1) an estimate on the number of students and other individuals in need of free products;

     (2) suitable locations for free product distribution;

     (3) any other proposals that the task force believes would advance the goal of menstrual equity on campus;

     (4) the projected cost of the plan; and

     (5) a timeline for implementation of the plan.

The substitute requires the president to forward the plan to the governing body of the institution, which shall then forward the plan to the Governor and to the Legislature. 

     Finally, the substitute requires the president of the institution to implement the plan within 12 months of the bill’s effective date.