Bill Text: NJ S2222 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires certain public assistance programs to include menstrual hygiene products among covered benefits available to eligible recipients.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-03-07 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [S2222 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-S2222-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator VIN GOPAL
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Requires certain public assistance programs to include menstrual hygiene products among covered benefits available to eligible recipients.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning menstrual hygiene products and supplementing Title 44 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The State Medicaid program established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.), the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, established pursuant to the federal "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, established pursuant to the federal "Child Nutrition Act of 1966," Pub.L.89-642 (42 U.S.C. s.1771 et seq. shall include menstrual hygiene products among the covered benefits available for all eligible recipients.
b. The Commissioner of Human Services shall consult and coordinate with the Commissioner of Health on the establishment of an educational and public awareness campaign to inform the public about the provisions of this act and to ensure that eligible recipients of the State Medicaid program, the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, the Work First New Jersey program, and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program are aware of the new benefits made available to them pursuant to subsection a. of this section, and shall post the information provided through the campaign on each of their departments' Internet sites.
c. The Commissioner of Human Services shall apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this section and to secure federal financial participation for expenditures under any of the applicable programs listed in subsection a. of this section.
d. As used in this section, "menstrual hygiene products" means tampons, panty liners, menstrual cups, sanitary napkins, and other similar products designed for a person's hygiene in connection with the human menstrual cycle.
2. This act shall take effect upon any federal approval and the acceptance of any such approval by the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services but the departments may take such anticipatory action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation this act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the State Medicaid program established pursuant to P.L.1968, c.413 (C.30:4D-1 et seq.), the New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, established pursuant to the federal "Food and Nutrition Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-246 (7 U.S.C. s.2011 et seq.), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, established pursuant to the federal "Child Nutrition Act of 1966," Pub.L.89-642 (42 U.S.C. s.1771 et seq.), the Work First New Jersey program, established pursuant to P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq. to include menstrual hygiene products among the covered benefits available for all eligible recipients.
As defined in the bill, "menstrual hygiene products" means tampons, panty liners, menstrual cups, sanitary napkins, and other similar products designed for a person's hygiene in connection with the human menstrual cycle.
The bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to consult and coordinate with the Commissioner of Health on the establishment of an educational and public awareness campaign to inform the public about the provisions of bill and to ensure that eligible recipients of the public assistance programs covered under the bill are aware of the new benefits made available to them, and to post the information provided through the campaign on each of the departments' Internet sites.
The bill stipulates that the Commissioner of Human Services is to apply for State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the provisions of the bill and to secure federal financial participation for expenditures under any of the applicable programs.
