STAND. COM. REP. NO. 152-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2003

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 2003 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Accounting and General Services to provide menstrual products at no cost in specified restrooms of public buildings maintained by the Department.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary; Department of Accounting and General Services; State Council on Development Disabilities; Hawaii State Public Library System; one member of the Kaua‘i County Council; Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center; Ma‘i Movement Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Women's Coalition; PERIOD.; Hawaii Medical Service Association; Breastfeeding Hawaii; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists – Hawai‘i Section; Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that nearly forty-four percent of households in the State are struggling to make ends meet, with fifteen percent of households in the State having income below the federal poverty level. Your Committee further finds that persons who struggle to meet their basic needs are often impacted by "period poverty", which refers to the systematic lack of access to menstrual products. As menstruation lasts, on average, for forty years, the ongoing need to purchase menstrual products disproportionately impacts a menstruating person's financial resources relative to a non-menstruating person with the same income. Your Committee believes that making menstrual products widely available in public restrooms will significantly reduce the financial burden associated with menstruation, reduce health risks, and protect the dignity of all menstruating people.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Accounting and General Services to post signs identifying the location of free menstrual products in each restroom in a covered public building;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2003, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2003, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Labor & Government Operations.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Homelessness,

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair