AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Education and Cultural Affairs Committee advanced legislation on Monday sponsored by Rep. Kristen Cloutier, D-Lewiston, that would require public schools serving sixth through 12th grades to provide menstrual products to students in school bathrooms.
"This bill is about equity," said Cloutier. "Many Maine students have reported that they choose not to attend school when menstruating because of the stigma associated with it and their inability to afford the products they need. We have created a system where a lack of access to menstrual products presents a lack of access to educational opportunities. We can and must do better."
LD 348 would require that menstrual products be available in bathrooms and provide ongoing General Fund appropriations of $564,059 in fiscal year 2023-24 and $272,999 in fiscal year 2024-25 to create Maine's Menstrual Products Reimbursement Program, which would reimburse public schools at 90% of the cost of making menstrual products available to students.
The bill faces votes in the House and Senate in the coming days.
Cloutier is the assistant House majority leader and is currently serving her third term in the Maine House of Representatives. She represents House District 94, which includes part of her hometown of Lewiston.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Cloutier], 305-965-2744