Florida Senate - 2023 SB 334



By Senator Book





35-00408A-23 2023334__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to menstrual hygiene products in
3 public schools; providing a short title; creating s.
4 1006.064, F.S.; defining the term “menstrual hygiene
5 products”; requiring school districts to make
6 menstrual hygiene products available, at no charge, in
7 certain schools within the district and in certain
8 locations within such schools; requiring schools to
9 notify students of the availability and locations of
10 such products; encouraging school districts to partner
11 with specified organizations to meet certain
12 requirements; providing applicability; providing an
13 effective date.
14
15 WHEREAS, menstrual hygiene products are a health care
16 necessity and are not items that can be foregone or substituted
17 easily, and
18 WHEREAS, access to menstrual hygiene products is a serious
19 and ongoing need in this state, and
20 WHEREAS, when students do not have access to affordable
21 menstrual hygiene products, they may miss multiple days of
22 school every month, and
23 WHEREAS, when students have access to quality menstrual
24 hygiene products, they are able to continue with their daily
25 lives with minimal interruption, NOW, THEREFORE,
26
27 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
28
29 Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Learning with
30 Dignity Act.”
31 Section 2. Section 1006.064, Florida Statutes, is created
32 to read:
33 1006.064 Availability of menstrual hygiene products.—
34 (1) As used in this section, the term “menstrual hygiene
35 products” means tampons and sanitary napkins for use in
36 connection with the menstrual cycle.
37 (2) A school district shall make menstrual hygiene products
38 available at no charge in each middle school and high school
39 within the district. The menstrual hygiene products must be
40 located in each school nurse’s office and other physical school
41 facility for health services, and in a minimum of 25 percent of
42 restrooms within each school, including at least one wheelchair
43 accessible restroom.
44 (3) Each school shall ensure that students are provided
45 appropriate notice as to the availability and location of
46 menstrual hygiene products.
47 (4) In order to meet the requirements of subsection (2),
48 school districts are encouraged to partner with nonprofit
49 organizations, nongovernmental organizations, businesses, and
50 other organizations to assist in supplying and maintaining the
51 required menstrual hygiene products.
52 (5) This section applies to charter schools pursuant to s.
53 1002.33(16)(a)5.
54 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.