Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
Assemblywoman CARMEN THERESA MORALES
District 34 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires each public institution of higher education to develop menstrual equity plan.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning menstrual equity at public institutions of higher education.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The president of each public institution of higher education shall develop a plan for the achievement of menstrual equity at the institution. The plan shall address the current efforts, needs, and access to menstrual products on campus and identify best practices towards achieving menstrual equity. The president may direct the Campus Hunger Task Force established pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2019, c.89 (C.18A:62-62), convene a new task force, or otherwise establish an initiative to develop the plan.
b. No later than six months after the effective date of this act, a comprehensive and sustainable plan towards achieving menstrual equity on campus that is best suited to the needs of the institution shall be established. The plan shall include, but shall not be limited to:
(1) an estimate of the number of students and other individuals in need of free products;
(2) suitable locations for free product distribution;
(3) any other proposals that 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 that ensures full implementation by the institution within 12 months of the effective date of this act.
The president shall forward the plan to the governing body of the institution, which shall then forward the plan to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1).
c. The president of the institution shall implement the plan within 12 months of the effective date of this act.
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the institution from taking action towards menstrual equity in advance of the timeline established pursuant to paragraph (5) of subsection b. of this section.
d. As used in this act, “menstrual equity” means equal and comprehensive access to menstrual hygiene products, which both remove barriers to care and reduces stigma surrounding menstruation.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the president of each public institution of higher education to develop a plan for the achievement of menstrual equity at the institution. The plan shall address the current efforts, needs and access to menstrual products on campus and identify best practices towards achieving menstrual equity. The president may direct the Campus Hunger Task Force established under current law, convene a new task force, or otherwise establish an initiative to develop the plan.
The bill requires, no later than six months after the bill’s effective date, the establishment of a comprehensive and sustainable plan towards achieving menstrual equity on campus that is best suited to the needs of the institution. The plan would 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 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 bill 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 bill requires the president of the institution to implement the plan within 12 months of the bill’s effective date.