Missouri Prevention First Act of 2014 (HB 1529)

HB 1529 would have changed the laws regarding sex education in public schools, established the Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies (CARE) Act and the Birth Control Protection Act, required the development of a women’s health-care program, and established procedures for pharmacies dispensing prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines in certain situations.

Sex Education in Public Schools

The bill would have required any course materials and instruction relating to human sexuality and sexually transmitted diseases to be based on peer-reviewed projects that have been demonstrated to influence healthy behavior, be age appropriate, and meet certain requirements. Notably, current materials and instruction must also reference the emotional and psychological consequences, possible academic results of preadolescent and adolescent sexual activity, and the advantages of adoption. HB 1529 would have removed these provisions.

Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies (CARE) Act

The Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies (CARE) Act would have required that the standard of care for any health-care facility that provides emergency care to sexual assault victims be to give a victim information regarding emergency contraception, inform the victim of her option to be provided emergency contraception, and provide a complete regimen of emergency contraception if requested.

Birth Control Protection Act

The Birth Control Protection Act would have prohibited a governmental actor or entity from being authorized to interfere in a consenting individual’s right to obtain or use safe and effective methods of contraception or to interfere with or discriminate against those rights in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information.

Women’s Health Services Program

The bill would have required the Department of Health and Senior Services to implement a women’s health services program by July 1, 2015, through qualified health providers to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies.

Dispensing Prescriptions and Over-the-Counter Medicines by Pharmacies

HB 1529 would have required a licensed pharmacy to dispense a prescribed drug or device in stock without delay and in a manner that is consistent with the normal time frame for filling any other prescription. The bill would have allowed a pharmacy to refuse to fill a prescription if there is a valid medical concern, as specified in the bill, or if the customer is unable to pay. The bill would have required a pharmacy to use standard procedures for expedited ordering to fulfill the prescription or locate another pharmacy of the customer’s choice and transfer the prescription if the prescribed drug or device is not in stock.The bill also would have prevented a pharmacy from intimidating, threatening, or harassing a customer during the delivery of services.

This bill would have curbed the practice of pharmacists refusing to fill prescriptions for emergency contraceptives.

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