Advocates and formerly incarcerated Wisconsinites urged lawmakers at an Assembly Committee on Corrections public hearing Jan. 7 to consider two bills that would increase hygiene products across Department of Corrections facilities and expand access to menstrual products for incarcerated women.
Assembly Bill 741 relates to personal hygiene products for inmates of state correctional institutions and county jails and houses of correction and Assembly Bill 736 relates to free menstrual products for inmates of state correctional institutions or county jails or houses of correction.
“Today, I had the honor of testifying before the Assembly Committee on Corrections in support of Assembly Bill 741, which would require the Department of Corrections to provide Persons in our Care with a variety of personal hygiene products, including culturally sensitive products such as shampoos, conditioners, natural hair oil, shaving cream, and bar soap that are appropriate for types 2, 3, and 4 hair, for no more than 125% of the price of the product at a leading retail chain,” said Rep. Shelia Stubbs, D-Madison, one of the authors of the bills. “I also was able to testify in support of Assembly Bill 736, which would ensure that women in our correctional system have access to a variety of menstrual products free of charge.”
Co-authors of the bills include State Reps. Darrin Madison and Robyn Vining, and State Sen. LaTonya Johnson.
Critics of the bills say the legislation would be too expensive for local budgets. The bills are now awaiting a committee vote.
