AB-968 Contraceptives. | California Bill

Plain English Breakdown

The official status indicates the bill was ordered to an inactive file, which may affect its final enactment despite passing the legislature.

This law expands existing rules to cover all types of contraceptives, allowing pharmacists and other providers more ways to provide these products.

Expands laws that stop healthcare workers from blocking patients who want legally prescribed drugs or devices to include emergency contraception, over-the-counter contraceptives, and prescription-only contraceptives.
Allows doctors, nurses, and other providers to use screening tools for any contraceptive instead of just hormonal ones.
Authorizes pharmacists to provide emergency contraception, over-the-counter contraceptives, and prescription-only contraceptives under specific rules.
Permits pharmacists to give FDA-approved nonhormonal contraceptives using standardized procedures approved by state boards.
Allows pharmacists to furnish over-the-counter contraceptives without needing the standardized procedures or protocols required for other types.
Requires pharmacists to provide a standardized fact sheet when starting an FDA-approved nonhormonal contraceptive for a patient.
Removes the ban on charging separate consultation fees specifically for emergency contraception services.
Expands rules requiring pharmacies to dispense up to a 12-month supply of contraceptives at a patient's request.

Contraceptive: A drug or device used to prevent pregnancy.
Over-the-counter contraceptive: Birth control that can be bought without a doctor's prescription.
Standardized procedures or protocols: Official rules and steps created by state boards for how pharmacists must act when providing certain drugs.

The bill does not specify the exact content of the required fact sheet, only that it must be standardized.
The text states this law passed both chambers but does not list a specific date when these new rules will start taking effect.