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WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

Illinois Legislature Passes Bill To Require Free Feminine Hygiene Products In Schools

Flickr user Eric E Castro / "The Tampon Fairy" (CC V 2.0)

The Illinois General Assembly passed legislation requiring public schools to provide free feminine hygiene products in girls' bathrooms.

It would apply for schools with grades six through 12.

State Rep. Litesa Wallace, a Democrat from Rockford, sponsored the legislation.

"This is another way to make sure that we not only are keeping the young lady discreet and with dignity; it's a public health issue,” she said.

Wallace said it's no different from supplying hand soap and paper towels.

"There are issues that we have no control over, it's a public health issue, it's one that, I believe if it applied to everybody, everyone would get on board,” she said.

Wallace said this measure could be especially helpful to low-income students, who sometimes resort to using unsanitary paper substitutes, or skipping school altogether. 

School districts that already make products available have noticed slight improvements in school attendance. Wallace says she hopes Governor Bruce Rauner, who has campaigned on his support for education, will sign her legislation into law.