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FILED ON: 10/26/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2491
Senate, October 26, 2023 -- Text of the Senate Bill to increase access to disposable menstrual
products (Senate, No. 2491) (being the text of Senate, No. 2481, printed as amended)
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
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 limited to, a family
9shelter, 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 made available in a readily accessible location and in a
13manner that minimizes any stigmatization of the 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 elementary and secondary public school shall provide disposable menstrual
22products to students at no cost. The disposable menstrual products shall be made available in
23readily accessible locations, including, but not limited to, restrooms for menstruating individuals
24and in a manner that minimizes any stigmatization of the individual seeking such products.
25 SECTION 3. Chapter 127 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the
26following section:-
27 SECTION 3. Chapter 127 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the
28following section:-
29 Section 172. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following
30meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise: 3 of 3
31 “Administrator”, the keeper of a lockup facility under section 35 of chapter 40, the
32superintendent of a correctional facility under chapter 125, a sheriff or special sheriff in charge
33of a jail, house of correction or regional lockup facility under chapter 126, the colonel of state
34police or any other official who oversees a facility used for the detention of persons arrested and
35held in custody or serving a sentence.
36 “Disposable menstrual products”, products used by a menstruating individual including,
37but not limited to, sanitary napkins, tampons and underwear liners.
38 “Menstruating individual”, a person who menstruates.
39 (b) The administrator shall provide disposable menstrual products to menstruating
40individuals held or housed in the facility overseen by the administrator at no cost. The disposable
41menstrual products shall be available in readily accessible locations and in a manner that
42minimizes any stigmatization of the individual seeking such products.