Madison, WI –Today, the Assembly Committee on Corrections held a public hearing on Assembly Bill 741—Relating to: personal hygiene products for inmates of state correctional institutions and county jails and houses of correction and making an appropriation and Assembly Bill 736—Relating to: free menstrual products for inmates of state correctional institutions or county jails or houses of correction. Assembly Committee on Corrections Ranking Member Representative Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison) released the following statement:
“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. 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.
I would like to acknowledge my co-authors Representative Darrin Madison, Representative Robyn Vining, and Senator LaTonya Johnson and thank them for their collaboration and continued support on this legislation.
Good hygiene is both a matter of health and of dignity, especially for those who are incarcerated. I authored Assembly Bill 741 and co-authored Assembly Bill 736 because, as Ranking Democratic Member on the Assembly Committee on Corrections, I believe that affordable access to personal hygiene products, including menstrual products, is crucial to promoting a safe, healthy environment and personal well-being for all Persons in Our Care. Ensuring that the hygiene products offered in our institutions are culturally appropriate and fairly priced will guarantee that every Person in Our Care has the tools necessary to maintain their personal grooming.
I hope to see these bills move forward, and I look forward to further conversations with partners on how we can improve access to necessary hygiene products for Persons in Our Care.”
