This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to mandate the provision of free feminine hygiene products to female inmates in jails, regional jails, and state correctional facilities, as well as to female juveniles in juvenile detention. Specifically, it introduces new language in Chapter 15A, Article 4, Section 15A-4-13, which states that female inmates must be provided with their choice of feminine hygiene products, defined as tampons and sanitary napkins, at no cost and within eight hours of request. Additionally, a new section, 28-5C-3, is added to Chapter 28, which reiterates this requirement for female juveniles in custody.

The bill also includes a deletion of existing language in both sections to accommodate these new provisions. The intent of the legislation is to ensure that female prisoners and juveniles have timely access to necessary hygiene products, thereby promoting health and dignity within correctional facilities.

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