HI HR147

Requests the Department of Education to provide free menstrual products to all students on Hawaii public school campuses.

Requests the Board of Education include criteria in the Superintendent's evaluation tool based on minimizing factors preventing true gender equity.

Requests the Hawaii youth risk behavior survey for high school and middle school students include three questions about menstrual product access and whether students have missed or been late to school due to lack of access.

Cites a 2016 New York City pilot program showing free menstrual product access increased student attendance by 2.4 percent and a 2019 University of Richmond study finding students unable to afford menstrual products were 5.89 times more likely to miss school.

Notes that 47 percent of Hawaii public school students were classified as "economically disadvantaged" in the 2019-2020 school year and approximately 60 percent of Hawaii families struggle to meet basic needs.