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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1783 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 534
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Jay D. Livingstone and Christine P. Barber
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Jay D. Livingstone8th Suffolk1/18/2023Christine P. Barber34th Middlesex1/18/2023Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire1/18/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/19/2023Patricia D. JehlenSecond Middlesex1/20/2023Jack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex1/23/2023Danielle W. Gregoire4th Middlesex1/24/2023Tram T. Nguyen18th Essex1/24/2023Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester1/25/2023Steven Ultrino33rd Middlesex1/25/2023Steven Owens29th Middlesex1/25/2023Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden1/26/2023Jeffrey N. Roy10th Norfolk1/26/2023Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex1/26/2023Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/27/2023Jessica Ann Giannino16th Suffolk1/27/2023James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol1/27/2023Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex1/28/2023 2 of 2
Brian W. Murray10th Worcester1/29/2023David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf17th Worcester1/30/2023Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk1/31/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/1/2023Jennifer Balinsky Armini8th Essex2/5/2023Michelle M. DuBois10th Plymouth2/7/2023Andres X. Vargas3rd Essex2/8/2023Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/8/2023Josh S. Cutler6th Plymouth2/8/2023Tricia Farley-Bouvier2nd Berkshire2/8/2023Adrian C. Madaro1st Suffolk2/13/2023Erika Uyterhoeven27th Middlesex2/22/2023Kate Lipper-Garabedian32nd Middlesex2/22/2023Manny Cruz7th Essex2/23/2023Rebecca L. RauschNorfolk, Worcester and Middlesex3/7/2023 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1783 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 534
By Representatives Livingstone of Boston and Barber of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by
bill, House, No. 534) of Jay D. Livingstone, Christine P. Barber and others for legislation to
increase access to disposable menstrual products. Education.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 23B of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the
2following section:-
3 Section 31. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following
4meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
5 “Disposable menstrual products”, products used by a menstruating individual including,
6but not limited to, sanitary napkins, tampons and underwear liners.
7 “Menstruating individual”, a person who menstruates.
8 (b) Any provider of temporary housing assistance, including, but not be limited to, a
9family shelter, a shelter for adults, a hotel used for emergency shelter, an emergency apartment, a
10domestic violence shelter, a runaway and homeless youth shelter or a safe house for refugees,
11shall provide disposable menstrual products at no cost to a menstruating individual. The 2 of 3
12disposable menstrual products shall be available in a convenient manner that does not stigmatize
13the individual seeking such products.
14 SECTION 2. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
15section 3 the following section:-
16 Section 3A. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following
17meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:-
18 “Disposable menstrual products”, products used by a menstruating individual including,
19but not limited to, sanitary napkins, tampons and underwear liners.
20 “Menstruating individual”, a person who menstruates.
21 (b) Every primary and secondary school shall provide disposable menstrual products at
22no cost to students. The disposable menstrual products shall be available in a convenient manner
23that does not stigmatize the individual seeking such products, including, but not limited to, in
24restrooms for menstruating individuals.
25 SECTION 3. Chapter 127 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the
26following section:-
27 Section 170. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following
28meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
29 “Administrator”, the keeper of a lock-up facility under chapter 40, the superintendent of a
30correctional facility under chapter 125, a sheriff or special sheriff in charge of a jail, house of
31correction or regional lock-up facility under chapter 126, the colonel of state police and any other 3 of 3
32official who oversees a facility used for the detention of persons arrested and held in custody or
33serving a sentence.
34 “Disposable menstrual products”, products used by a menstruating individual including,
35but not limited to, sanitary napkins, tampons and underwear liners.
36 “Menstruating individual”, a person who menstruates.
37 (b) The administrator shall provide disposable menstrual products to menstruating
38individuals held or housed in the facility overseen by the administrator at no cost. The disposable
39menstrual products shall be available in a convenient manner that does not stigmatize the
40individual seeking such products.