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This bill maintains dignity to women while in custody
(Mar. 20) – The House approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, to provide menstrual hygiene products to women who are in custody immediately and free of charge.
“If you can’t say the word tampon, then don’t restrict access to one,” said Rep. Herod. “Women’s bodies are different, and we need to ensure that we are treating all women, especially those that are in custody, with the respect and dignity that they deserve.”
Under current policies, some county jails provide limited menstrual hygiene products to inmates, while some provide none. HB 19-1224 requires all local jails, multijurisdictional jails, and municipal jails to provide menstrual hygiene products to people in custody at no expense.
HB19-1224 passed by a unanimous vote of 65-0 and now heads to the Senate.
The bill follows legislation from 2017, sponsored by Rep. Herod and Senator Winter, which required that the Department of Corrections provide free menstrual hygiene products to those in state prisons and other DOC facilities.