Journalist: Heidi Hampton (TU)
TU-001, called the “Prevent Period Poverty” Act, was written by Julianna Ferrell detailing a plan to provide menstrual products to Oklahoma public school students in grades 3-12. Ferrell stated in her author’s explanation that one in four women struggle with period poverty. She also stated girls and women lacking access to period products leads to them missing important events, work, and school.
Ferrell stated this bill will help lessen the amount of life events women will have to miss due to a lack of menstrual products as well as reducing discomfort that comes from lack of access to menstrual products. The bill allocates $1.8 million dollars per academic school year to go towards the menstrual products. The funds will be pulled from the Education Reform Revolving Fund. The products will be placed in non-gendered and women’s restrooms in public schools in Oklahoma.
When asked, the author stated the average cost per student in similar programs across the country was between $5-$7. With this in mind, the cost between school years would remain consistent because there is not a significant change in the number of students attending public Oklahoma schools between years.
When the bill was heard in Senate a motion was made to amend a part of the bill. In the original text of the bill the program was designed for students in grades 6-12, but the amendment heard and passed in the Senate changed the grade range to be from grades 3-12 instead of 6-12.
Senator Hyatt who brought the amendment forward stated she knew that girls often start their periods as young as in the third grade. The amendment was brought forward to expand the program so younger girls will also be able to access the needed products.
The Senate voted in favor of passing the bill with the added amendment discussed. The bill passed with a vote of 23-1.