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2020 SESSION

20102670D
SENATE BILL NO. 232
Offered January 8, 2020
Prefiled January 2, 2020
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-6.1, relating to menstrual supplies; certain school buildings.
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Patrons-- Boysko and McClellan
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Referred to Committee on Education and Health
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-6.1 as follows:

§ 22.1-6.1. Menstrual supplies; certain school buildings.

A. As used in this section:

"Menstrual supplies" means tampons and pads for use in connection with the menstrual cycle.

"School building" means any facility owned, leased, or otherwise controlled by a school board that houses a public school at which any student in grades five through 12 is enrolled.

B. In recognition of the fact that (i) menstrual supplies are a health care necessity that cannot be easily forgone or substituted; (ii) access to menstrual supplies is a serious and ongoing need in the Commonwealth; (iii) menstruating students have often navigated a complex system of school protocols, with multiple barriers, as they have searched to access menstrual supplies, which has often led to stained clothing, infection due to overuse of menstrual supplies, valuable instruction time missed, absence from school for multiple days each month, and a compromised and inequitable education; (iv) non-menstruating peer students have full access to all necessities in a school bathroom, such as toilet paper and hand soap, both of which are federally regulated by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration; and (v) when students have effortless access to quality menstrual supplies, they are better able to pursue an education, participate in electives, and seek extracurricular activities without fear or embarrassment, each school board shall make menstrual supplies available at all times and at no cost to students in the bathrooms of each school building where at least 40 percent of enrolled students are eligible for free or reduced lunch.