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.