Period Poverty from essay to law

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) - In Las Vegas this afternoon, Governor Steve Sisolak signed bills his office referred to as women’s health issues.

One of those bills Assembly Bill 224 calls for school districts across the state to offer free menstrual products in middle and high schools. Female students would no longer have to go to the school nurse. Instead the products would be dispensed at no cost in school bathrooms.

“This bill will ensure dignity and equity for Nevada students,” said 16-year-old Samantha Glover during ceremonies at the Grant Sawyer Building in Las Vegas.

Back in March, Glover told us she learned about what is known as “period poverty” while researching an English argumentative essay.

“And I would like to thank Ms. Wait and Ms. Ingle for assigning this project. And inspiring me to continually advocate for what I feel passionate about,” said Glover this afternoon.

She began her own non-profit called Red Equality where she collected menstrual products and assembled packets and distributed them to homeless and low-income women.

But she was convinced she could do more.

In Carson City, the initial draft had two sponsors in the assembly but by the time it made it to bill form it had more than 20 sponsors from both parties.

It proposed school districts throughout the state develop a program to offer free menstrual products to middle and high school students through dispensers in bathrooms. “Period products like pads and tampons are just a crucial as hand sanitizer or toilet paper which are given at schools, said Glover as the bill was being considered.

“I really strongly believe that nobody should be missing school,” she says. Some amendments were added to the bill as the days ticked by.

There was little if any opposition in hearings as it made its way through both the assembly and senate.

Samantha was the chief spokesperson on behalf of the bill. She received a standing ovation in the Nevada Senate as AB 224 passed overwhelmingly and headed to the Capitol.

Today she stood next to Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak as AB 224 became law in the silver state.

Washoe County and the 16 school districts must come up policies and procedures to implement the period poverty law. The districts must also determine which middle and high schools will be impacted first.

They have until January of 2022, to get it done

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