HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2863

As Reported by House Committee On:

Higher Education

Title: An act relating to providing feminine hygiene products in community and technical colleges at no cost to students.

Brief Description: Providing feminine hygiene products in community and technical colleges at no cost to students.

Sponsors: Representatives Stambaugh, Kilduff, Sawyer, Wylie, Bergquist, Macri, Doglio and Pollet.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Higher Education: 1/30/18, 1/31/18 [DPS].

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Hansen, Chair; Pollet, Vice Chair; Holy, Ranking Minority Member; Van Werven, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Haler, Orwall, Sells, Stambaugh and Tarleton.

Staff: Megan Mulvihill (786-7304).

Background:

The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges is a state agency led by a nine-member governor-appointed board that is charged with coordinating and advocating on behalf of the state's 34 community and technical colleges. The community and technical colleges are located in 30 college districts across the state, and there are 77 different campuses and centers. Over 380,000 students are enrolled in the state's community and technical colleges, and 56 percent of those students are female.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

At community and technical colleges, menstrual hygiene products must be available at no cost to students in restrooms of buildings serving students. Menstrual hygiene products are defined as tampons and sanitary napkins used in connection with the menstrual cycle.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill changed "feminine hygiene products" to "menstrual hygiene products" and struck "female" from the description of which students need to be served.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Nationally, there is heightened awareness regarding feminine hygiene products, especially around the taxation and access to them. There are multiple colleges starting to offer these products in restrooms. At Washington's community and technical colleges, 56 percent of the students are female. Menstruation impacts the majority of these students, and they need access to good health options. Some restrooms do not provide these products, some require you to pay for them, and often times women do not have a quarter on them. This is a problem women face as our society becomes more debit card driven.

College students are already stretched thin financially due to the cost of tuition, books, and cost of living. The cost of feminine hygiene products can really add up for low income students, homeless students, and students who are financially independent from their parents. This can have a positive impact on female students, but it does need to be adequately funded.

This should be amended to expand it to the four-year institutions. At Washington State University – Vancouver, the student government has received requests throughout the year to provide feminine hygiene products in the restrooms. Currently, feminine hygiene products are only available in one restroom on campus. This would give students peace of mind knowing these products are available and that they do not need to travel across campus to access them.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Stambaugh, prime sponsor; Erin Frasier, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; Leah Mobley, Associated Students of Central Washington University; and Justus Phelps, Associated Students of Washington State University – Vancouver.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.