To mandate county boards of education to provide feminine hygiene products in all public elementary, middle, and high schools for female students
Summary
House Bill 2839 would require county boards of education in West Virginia to provide free access to feminine hygiene products for female students in all public elementary, middle, and high schools. The bill specifies that these products must be available in schools and paid for using existing appropriations for hygiene products, rather than creating a new funding source.
The measure is framed as a school health and student support policy intended to ensure that female students have access to necessary menstrual products during the school day. It would add a new section to West Virginia Code §18-5-52 within the education article governing county boards of education.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would impose a new statewide obligation on county boards of education to supply feminine hygiene products in public schools serving elementary, middle, and high school students. It would affect school district budgeting and procurement practices by directing that the products be funded through existing hygiene-product appropriations, and it would create a statutory requirement that schools provide free access to these items for female students.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears supportive and straightforward. The bill’s sponsors and caption indicate a policy aimed at student welfare and practical access to hygiene products, with no documented opposition or amendment activity in the available record.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided transcripts or voting history. Potential areas of debate, if raised, would likely involve whether the mandate should apply to all grade levels, how schools should implement access, and whether existing appropriations are sufficient to cover the added requirement. However, the available materials do not show any recorded disagreement from particular legislators, committees, or stakeholder groups.
Supplementing and amending appropriations to the Higher Education Policy Commission, Higher Education Policy Commission – Administration – Control Account
Making a supplementary appropriation to the Department of Human Services, Bureau for Medical Services – Policy and Programming and State Board of Education – State Department of Education