(a) The school district acting by the Commissioner of Correction shall have the power to (1) establish and maintain within the Department of Correction such schools of different grades as the commissioner may from time to time require and deem necessary in the best interests of those persons confined in any institution of the department, (2) establish and maintain within the department such school libraries as may from time to time be required in connection with the educational courses, services and programs authorized by § 18-99a and this section, (3) purchase, receive, hold and convey personal property for school purposes and equip and supply such schools with necessary furniture and other appendages, (4) make agreements and regulations for the establishing and conducting of such schools as are authorized under said sections and employ and dismiss, in accordance with the applicable provisions of § 10-151, such teachers as are necessary to carry out the intent of said sections, and to pay their salaries, and (5) receive any federal funds or aid made available to the state for rehabilitative or other programs and shall be eligible for and may receive any other funds or aid whether private, state or otherwise, to be used for the purposes of said sections.

(b) The school district acting by the Commissioner of Correction may, pursuant to agreements, cooperate with the federal government in carrying out the purposes of any federal acts pertaining to vocational rehabilitation, and may adopt such methods of administration as are found by the federal government to be necessary for the proper and efficient operation of such agreements or plans for vocational or other rehabilitation in correctional institutions, and may comply with such conditions as may be necessary to secure the full benefit of all such federal funds available.

(c) On and after July 1, 2023, the school district acting by the Commissioner of Correction shall upon request, provide a person confined in any institution of the Department of Correction who is attending a school within such district menstrual products as soon as practicable. Correctional staff shall provide such menstrual products for free, in a quantity that is appropriate to the health care needs of such person and in a manner that does not stigmatize any person seeking such products, pursuant to guidelines established by the Commissioner of Public Health under § 19a-131l. To carry out the provisions of this section, the Department of Correction may (1) accept donations of menstrual products and grants from any source for the purpose of purchasing such products, and (2) partner with a nonprofit or community-based organization.