Access to Birth Control Act
Bill journey · stage 2 of 5
Under committee review
What it doesSummary introduced in senate (Nov 17, 2021)
Access to Birth Control Act
This bill requires pharmacies to comply with certain rules related to ensuring access to contraceptives.
Specifically, pharmacies must provide without delay a customer with any contraceptive or related medication that is in stock. If the contraceptive is not in stock, the pharmacy must immediately inform the customer and either order the contraceptive or refer the customer to a pharmacy that has it in stock. Laws in some states provide pharmacists with the right to refuse to dispense contraceptive-related drugs on religious or conscience grounds.
Pharmacies may refuse to provide a contraceptive to a customer (1) if the customer lacks a valid prescription for a prescription contraceptive or is unable to pay for the contraceptive, or (2) based on a pharmacy employee's professional clinical judgment.
The bill also establishes a private cause of action and civil monetary penalties for violations of the bill.
What just happenedNov 17, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Who’s behind it
- Introduced in SenateNov 17, 2021
- Nov 17, 2021IntroReferral
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee - Nov 17, 2021IntroReferral10000
Introduced in Senate