STAND. COM. REP. NO. 483

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 481

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 481 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the University of Hawaii to provide menstrual products free of charge to all students on any University of Hawaii campus, including the community colleges.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System; one member of the Kaua‘i County Council; Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Zonta Club of Hilo, Kauai, Leilehua, and Hanalei; Alliance for Period Supplies; American Association of University Women of Hawaii; Ma‘i Movement Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Women's Coalition; Hawaii Community College Palamanui; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and one individual.

Your Committee finds that menstrual products are vital for the physical and mental health, well-being, and full participation of menstruating students, including women and transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming individuals. National and state data establish that students who menstruate and cannot afford menstrual products or are unable to access these products for other reasons, face a significant barrier to education that biologically male students do not experience. By requiring the University of Hawaii to provide these products free of charge on its campuses, this measure upholds educational and gender equity.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding a finding that this measure addresses an issue of statewide concern; and

(2) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation in an amount of $1,000,000 to the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 481, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 481, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education & Technology,

____________________________

AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair