HF 443 (LSB 1492YH (2) 90)

HOUSE FILE 443

BY  BAGNIEWSKI

(COMPANION TO SF 74 BY PETERSEN)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the provision of period products.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  8H.1  Provision of period products.
   1.  The entity with authority over a state building shall ensure that period products are available, at no cost, in the restrooms of the state building.
   2.  For the purpose of this section:
   a.  “Period products” means tampons and period pads for use in connection with the menstrual cycle.
   b.  “State agency” means a unit of state government, which is an authority, board, commission, committee, council, department, or independent agency as defined in section 7E.4, including but not limited to each principal central department enumerated in section 7E.5. However, “state agency” does not mean any of the following:
   (1)  The office of the governor or the office of an elective constitutional or statutory officer.
   (2)  The general assembly, or any office or unit under its administrative authority.
   (3)  The judicial branch, as provided in section 602.1102.
   (4)  A political subdivision of the state or its offices or units, including but not limited to a county or city, but not including a community college.
   c.  “State building” means a public facility or building owned, leased, or operated by or under the control of the state government, a state agency, the state department of transportation, the state board of regents, or the Iowa state fair board.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  218.101  Provision of period products.
   Institutions controlled by the director of health and human services specified in section 218.1 shall make period products available, at no cost, to residents or patients of the institutions in locations and as appropriate to the health care needs of the residents or patients, and to staff and the public, in the restrooms of the institutions. As used in this section, “period products” means tampons and period pads for use in connection with the menstrual cycle.
    Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  270.4A  Provision of period products.
   The superintendent shall make period products available, at no cost, to students, staff, and the public in the restrooms of school buildings and of each campus building frequented by students, staff, and the public. As used in this section, “period products” means tampons and period pads for use in connection with the menstrual cycle.
    Sec. 4.  NEW SECTION.  280.33  Provision of period products.
   1.  The board of directors of each public school district and the authorities in charge of each nonpublic school shall ensure that period products are available, at no cost, to students, staff, and the public in the restrooms of school buildings.
   2.  For the purposes of this section:
   a.  “Period products” means tampons and period pads for use in connection with the menstrual cycle.
   b.  “School building” means any facility that is owned or leased by a public school district or nonpublic school over which the board or authorities have care, custody, and control.
    Sec. 5.  NEW SECTION.  904.517  Provision of period products.
   The department shall ensure that period products are available to offenders committed to the institutions specified in section 904.102 at no cost and in a quantity and as appropriate to the health care needs of the individual offender. The department shall also ensure that period products are available, at no cost, for staff and the public in the restrooms of the institutions. For the purposes of this section, “period products” means tampons and period pads for use in connection with the menstrual cycle.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires period products to be available at no cost in certain buildings, institutions, and facilities under the control of the state and in schools.
   The bill requires that the entity with authority over a state building shall ensure that period products are available, at no cost, in the restrooms of the state building. 
   The bill requires that institutions controlled by the director of the department of health and human services make period products available, at no cost, to residents or patients of the institutions in locations and as appropriate to the health care needs of the residents or patients, and to staff and the public, in the restrooms of the institutions.
   The bill requires the superintendent of the school for the deaf to make period products available, at no cost, to students, staff, and the public in the restrooms of school buildings and of each campus building frequented by students, staff, and the public. 
   The bill requires the board of directors of each public school district and the authorities in charge of each nonpublic school to ensure that period products are available, at no cost, to students, staff, and the public in the restrooms of school buildings.
   The bill requires that the department of corrections ensure that period products are available to offenders committed to the institutions at no cost and in a quantity and as appropriate to the health care needs of the individual offender. The bill also requires the department of corrections to ensure that period products are available, at no cost, to staff and the public, in the restrooms of institutions. 
   For the purposes of the bill, “period products” means tampons and period pads for use in connection with the menstrual cycle.