Date: 03/15/2006

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB06-1212

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, LABOR AND TECHNOLOGY

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Refer HB 1212 to the Committee of the Whole. The PASS



03:16 PM -- House Bill 06-1212

The committee relocated to SCR 356 for discussion of HB 1212. Senator Veiga introduced her bill concerning the availability of emergency contraception and allowing pharmacists the authority to prescribe emergency contraception.

03:21 PM -- Susan Wood, Former Commissioner for Womens' Health at the Food and Drug Administration, spoke in support of the legislation. She described her experience with reproductive health issues and the federal government. She provided a copy of her testimony to the committee (Attachment D). She responded to questions from the committee regarding the safety of "Plan B". Plan B is the commercial name for the emergency contraceptive prescription described in the bill. She responded to questions regarding the makeup of the drug. Committee discussion ensued.

03:41 PM -- Carol Stamm, Colorado Obstetric and Gynocological Society and the Colorado Medical Society, spoke in support of the legislation. She described how the Plan B drug will function in preventing pregnancy. She responded to questions from the committee.

03:51 PM -- Val Kalins, Colorado Pharmacists Society, spoke in support of the legsislation.

03:52 PM -- Laura Hansen, Colorado Pharmacists Society, spoke in support of the legislation. She described the role of a pharmicist in dispensing drugs to individuals. She responded to questions from the committee regarding the protocol for providing the prescription.

03:58 PM -- Tamika Payne, Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, spoke in favor of the legislation. She responded to questions from the committee regarding to whom the prescription would be made available.

04:04 PM -- Ann Burger, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the legislation.

04:10 PM -- Diane Foley, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill. Dr. Foley is a pediatric gynecologist who is concerned about the portions of the bill that talk about emergency contraception as being a safety issue. She cited studies that show that emergency contraception contributes to higher levels of sexually transmitted diseases. Dr. Foley supports the prescription of emergency contraception by doctors, but not by pharmacists. She stated that this legislation disregards issues of safety. The committee asked questions about the studies Dr. Foley cited.

04:15 PM -- Jeff Arpad, Pure by Choice, spoke in opposition to the bill. Mr. Arpad stated that emergency contraception leads to women being treated like objects.
04:19 PM -- Patricia Lynch, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill. Ms. Lynch is a registered nurse and is concerned that emergency contraception promotes the destruction of human life.

04:23 PM -- Timothy Dore, Colorado Catholic Conference, spoke in opposition to the bill. He expressed concern that pharmicists who have a moral opposition to prescribing the drug would be forced to do so. He responded to questions from the committee regarding whether a pharmacist could object without losing his or her job.

04:27 PM -- Tom Longua, representing himself, spoke in opposition to the bill. He provided a written copy of his statement to the committee, a copy was not available for staff.

04:32 PM -- Ken Stone, Colorado Physicians for Life and Colorado Right to Life, spoke in opposition to the bill. He responded to questions from the committee regarding the appropriateness of allowing a pharmacist to prescribe Plan B.

04:44 PM -- Chuck Page, representing himself, spoke in opposition to the bill. He described his experience as a practicing pharmacist.

04:49 PM -- Cosette Davis, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill.

04:52 PM -- Mariegrace Veres, Pure by Choice, spoke in opposition to the bill. She expressed her concern that the legislation promotes the idea that teenagers can have sex safely whenever they want.

04:55 PM -- Helen Hargis, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill.

04:59 PM -- Angie Austin, representing herself, spoke in opposition to the bill. She described her experience as a rape victim and indicated her belief that allowing use of Plan B would cause rape victims to not report what happened to them.

05:06 PM

Senator Veiga made closing comments on the merits of the bill. She responded to points raised in the course of testimony on the bill.

BILL:HB06-1212
TIME: 05:14:23 PM
MOVED:Veiga
MOTION:Refer HB 1212 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed 4-3.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Evans
No
Hanna
Yes
Kester
No
Takis
Yes
Wiens
No
Tochtrop
Yes
Veiga
Yes
Final YES: 4 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




05:15 PM

The committee recessed.