DOA:......Kretschmann, BB0165 - Access to Period Products in Schools
For 2025-2027 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
EDUCATION
Primary and secondary education
Access to period products in schools
This bill requires each school district and operator of an independent charter school to provide period products to any pupil who needs them while at school, at no charge to the pupil. In addition, the bill requires DPI to distribute aid for the provision of period products to certain school districts and independent charter schools. Under the bill, a school district or independent charter school is eligible for aid if the school district or independent charter school had a greater percentage of economically disadvantaged pupils enrolled in or attending the school district or independent charter school than the statewide percentage of economically disadvantaged pupils in the previous school year. Under the bill, DPI must distribute to each eligible school district and independent charter school the greater of $100 or an amount that is proportionate to the number of economically disadvantaged pupils enrolled in or attending the eligible school district or independent charter school in the previous school year compared to the total number of economically disadvantaged pupils enrolled in or attending eligible school districts or independent charter schools in the previous school year. If the amount appropriated for this aid is insufficient to pay the full amount of aid, DPI must prorate the aid payments among the eligible school districts and independent charter schools. The bill defines an “economically disadvantaged pupil” as a pupil who satisfies the federal income eligibility requirements for a free or reduced-price lunch.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 20.255 (2) (dv) of the statutes is created to read:
20.255 (2) (dv) Aid for period products. The amounts in the schedule for aid to schools for the provision of period products under s. 115.351 (2).
****Note: This Section involves a change in an appropriation that must be reflected in the revised schedule in s. 20.005, stats.
Section 2. 115.351 of the statutes is created to read:
115.351 Aid for period products. (1) In this section:
(a) “Economically disadvantaged pupil” has the meaning given in s. 115.43 (1).
(b) “Eligible local educational agency” means a school district or charter school authorized under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) for which the percentage of economically disadvantaged pupils who were enrolled in the school district or attended the charter school in the previous school year is greater than the percentage of economically disadvantaged pupils who were enrolled in school districts and attended charter schools statewide in the previous school year.
(2) Subject to sub. (3), the department shall distribute aid for the provision of period products in accordance with s. 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m. or (2x) (b) 2. m. or 121.02 (1) (im) to each eligible local educational agency in an amount equal to the greater of the following:
(a) One hundred dollars.
(b) An amount determined as follows:
1. Divide the amount appropriated for the current fiscal year under s. 20.255 (2) (dv) by the total number of economically disadvantaged pupils who were enrolled in or attended eligible local educational agencies statewide in the previous school year.
2. Multiply the number of economically disadvantaged pupils who were enrolled in or attended the eligible local educational agency in the previous school year by the quotient determined under subd. 1.
(3) If the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (dv) in the current fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount of aid under sub. (2), aid payments shall be prorated among the eligible local educational agencies.
Section 3. 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m. of the statutes is created to read:
118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m. A requirement that the charter school governing board provide period products to any pupil who needs them while at school, at no charge to the pupil.
Section 4. 118.40 (2x) (b) 2. m. of the statutes is created to read:
118.40 (2x) (b) 2. m. A requirement that the charter school governing board provide period products to any pupil who needs them while at school, at no charge to the pupil.
Section 5. 121.02 (1) (im) of the statutes is created to read:
121.02 (1) (im) Provide period products to any pupil who needs them while at school, at no charge to the pupil.
Section 9334. Initial applicability; Public Instruction.
(1) Access to period products in independent charter schools. The treatment of s. 118.40 (2r) (b) 2. m. and (2x) (b) 2. m. first applies to a contract that is entered into, renewed, or modified on the effective date of this subsection.
(2) Access to period products in school districts. The treatment of s. 121.02 (1) (im) first applies to the 2025-26 school year.
(end)
