The Examiner U-46 News FeedOpposition to legislation urged by U-46 resident By Seth Hancock
The Illinois General Assembly is considering an addition to an unfunded mandate on public schools that currently requires free feminine products in girls restrooms at schools for sixth grade and up under House Bill 922.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) on Jan. 25 and would update the law, which created the mandate in 2018, to now include free feminine products in boys bathrooms as well. The bill is currently awaiting a second reading by the house.
L. Dean Hufsey, an Elgin resident, urged the Board of Education in School District U-46 and residents to contact their representatives to oppose the bill, which he called a “destructive effort,” when he spoke during public comments at the Monday, March 4 board meeting.
The bill would amend the school code to state schools “shall make feminine hygiene products available, at no cost to students, in each bathroom of every school building.” The phrase “each bathroom of every school building” replaces “the bathrooms of school buildings” which would mean adding boys bathrooms to the current unfunded mandate.
The definition of feminine hygiene products in the school code is “tampons and sanitary napkins for use in connection with the menstrual cycle” which only applies to biological females, not biological males..
“Isn’t this action a type of bullying which is being forced on we the people who know that boys don’t menstruate?” Hufsey asked.
Hufsey added that Illinois residents are “leaving the state in droves, school enrollments are declining in U-46 while taxes continue to skyrocket. It’s past time to put an end to this kind of nonsense.”
The current unfunded mandate requiring such products in girls bathrooms took effect in 2018.
.
.
|