Bill Text: HI HB2453 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Dignity For Female Inmates.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-29 - Referred to PBS, FIN, referral sheet 9 [HB2453 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2018-HB2453-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2453 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to dignity for female inmates.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that throughout the United States many female inmates earn small wages in state-operated correctional facilities and struggle to buy necessary feminine hygiene products from the in-facility commissaries.
Prison reform advocates say feminine hygiene products sold at the commissaries are often of poor quality, limited in quantity, and expensive, which results in some female inmates having to cope without feminine hygiene products.
In 2017, following the congressional introduction of "The Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act," which aimed to increase the quality of life for female inmates, the Federal Bureau of Prisons announced that it would provide free feminine hygiene products to female inmates in the federal correctional system.
The legislature further finds that Hawaii lawmakers support the well-being, dignity, and quality of life of the State's female inmates and hope that the positive action by the Federal Bureau of Prisons in providing free feminine hygiene products to female inmates can serve as a model for the Hawaii correctional system, which had five hundred fifty-two female inmates in state custody as of December 31, 2017.
The purpose of this Act is to improve the well-being, dignity, and quality of life of the State's female inmates by requiring that the department of public safety provide free, quality feminine hygiene products to female inmates and detainees in the State's correctional facilities.
SECTION 2. Chapter 353, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§353- Feminine
hygiene products; female inmates and detainees. (a)
All female inmates in the custody of the department upon admission and until
release shall be provided with feminine hygiene products at the department's
expense and upon request of the inmate.
(b) All female
individuals arrested and detained in the custody of the department for at least
forty-eight hours and until release shall be provided with feminine hygiene
products at the department's expense and upon request of the detainee.
(c) Upon request from a
female inmate or detainee, the department shall provide free feminine
hygiene products in each category as follows:
(1) Tampons,
regular or super size;
(2) Sanitary napkins
with wings, regular or super size; and
(3) Panty liners,
regular.
(d) The department
shall ensure feminine hygiene products provided under this section conform with
applicable industry standards.
(e) All female inmates
and detainees shall be allowed to maintain a number of
feminine hygiene products within their unit.
For purposes of this section,
"feminine hygiene products" means tampons and sanitary napkins for
use in connection with the menstrual cycle and panty liners."
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2018.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Dignity Act; Female Inmates; Feminine Hygiene Products
Description:
Requires the Department of Public Safety to provide free feminine hygiene products to all female inmates and detainees upon request.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
