S 3223 117th Congress Senate Health Civil actions and liability Family planning and birth control Health care coverage and access Health technology, devices, supplies Women's health

Access to Birth Control Act

Introduced: November 17, 2021 Introduced by: Booker, Cory A. Democratic · New Jersey See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Nov 17, 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Nov 17, 2021

Introduced in Senate

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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's happening now November 17, 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Committees of jurisdiction 1