SB 2821 Summary

• Department of Education must provide menstrual products free of charge to all students on all public school campuses, including department of education schools and public charter schools.

• Menstrual products defined as including but not limited to disposable menstrual pads and tampons.

• Legislature finds that period poverty and lack of access to menstrual products negatively impact student health, cause school absenteeism, and create educational barriers disproportionately affecting menstruating students, low-income households, homeless individuals, and transgender or nonbinary students.

• Data from Hawaii state commission on the status of women and Mai Movement Hawaii shows 42% of students missed class and 22% missed entire school days due to lack of access to menstrual products; pilot program demonstrated 7-9% improvement in attendance when products were provided.

• Effective date: July 1, 2022.