Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman LISA SWAIN
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Menstrual Hygiene Product Pilot Program, appropriates $60,000.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing a Menstrual Hygiene Product Pilot Program, supplementing Title 4 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropiation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
"Department" means the Department of Agriculture.
"Federal WIC program" means the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, established pursuant to the federal "Child Nutrition Act of 1966," Pub.L.89-642 (42 U.S.C. s.1771 et seq.).
Menstrual hygiene products mean tampons and sanitary napkins for use in connection with the menstrual cycle.
"New Jersey Supplementary Food Stamp Program" means the State level food stamp program, established pursuant to P.L.1998, c.32 (C.44:10-79 et seq.), which applies to non-citizens who were rendered ineligible for federal food stamp program assistance by section 402 of the federal "Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996," Pub.L.104-193 (8 U.S.C. s.1612).
"Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture.
"Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program" means the supplemental nutrition assistance program, established pursuant to the federal "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.88-525 (7 U.S.C.s.2011 et seq.).
"Work First New Jersey" means the Work First New Jersey temporary public assistance program, established pursuant to P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.) in accordance with authorization received under Title IV of the federal "Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996," Pub.L.104-193 (8 U.S.C. s.1601 et seq.).
b. In order to promote and facilitate improved access to menstrual hygiene products to low-income residents of the State, the Department of Agriculture shall develop and assist in the implementation of a menstrual hygiene product pilot program, to be known as the Menstrual Hygiene Product Pilot Program. No later than six months after the effective date of this act, the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health and Senior Services, shall develop and implement a three-year Menstrual Hygiene Product Pilot Program.
c. The Secretary of Agriculture shall select for participation in the pilot program no less than one food pantry in each of the northern, central, and southern regions of the State.
d. The Department of Agriculture shall identify, on its Internet website, the food pantries selected for participation, and the times during which each food pantry will be accessible for community residents to obtain menstrual hygiene products.
e. (1) Under the pilot program, the Department of Agriculture shall award grants of up to $20,000 to each food pantry that is selected to participate in the pilot program to purchase menstrual hygiene products. Any costs incurred by a food pantry in providing an adequate supply of menstrual hygiene products shall be borne by the State.
(2) A food pantry selected to participate in the pilot program shall make available menstrual hygiene products to any eligible individual at no charge.
f. An eligible individual is one who is currently enrolled as a participant in:
(1) the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program;
(2) the federal WIC program;
(3) the New Jersey Supplementary Food Stamp Program;
(4) the Work First New Jersey program; or
(5) any other federal or State level nutrition or income assistance program now or hereafter established by law.
g. The food pantries selected to participate in the pilot program shall submit reports periodically, as determined by the Department of Agriculture, detailing the costs associated with providing the menstrual hygiene products, the demand for the products, and the sufficiency of the grants under the program. The Department of Agriculture shall collect any additional information and data necessary to complete the report required to be submitted to the Governor and Legislature pursuant to subsection i. of this section.
h. As a part of the Menstrual Hygiene Product Pilot Program, the Department of Agriculture shall be authorized to:
(1) coordinate and encourage partnerships between the participating food pantries and pharmacies or other retail stores as deemed necessary to better enable and ensure the prompt or efficient delivery of