This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to mandate the provision of free feminine hygiene products to female prisoners in jails, regional jails, and state correctional facilities, as well as to female juveniles in juvenile detention. Specifically, it introduces a new section, designated 28-5C-3, which defines "feminine hygiene products" as tampons and sanitary napkins and requires that these products be provided at no cost to female inmates upon request, within a maximum timeframe of eight hours. Additionally, the bill modifies existing provisions in 15A-4-13 and 49-2-906 to include similar requirements for female juveniles in custody.

The bill also includes a deletion of previous language regarding the provision of feminine hygiene products, ensuring that the new requirements are clearly established. The intent of the legislation is to enhance the health and dignity of female inmates and juveniles by ensuring access to necessary hygiene products without financial burden.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15A-4-13, 49-2-906, 28-5C-3