HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

247

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TO APPROVE OVER-THE-COUNTER ACCESS for EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

 

 

WHEREAS, almost half of the pregnancies within the United States are unplanned, often resulting in financial and emotional strain on families and individuals; and

WHEREAS, the health and well-being of a child depends on the financial and emotional health of its guardians; and

WHEREAS, access to contraception increases women's choice, improves women's status within society, and improves society as a whole; and

WHEREAS, Act 201, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003, made emergency contraception available through consultation with a pharmacist; and

WHEREAS, despite over one hundred pharmacists being trained to implement Act 201, nearly one year later, emergency contraception is still not available from local pharmacies; and

WHEREAS, dispensing emergency contraception over-the-counter would improve access for women in rural areas or areas where a certified pharmacist may be unavailable; and

WHEREAS, in December 2003, the Reproductive Health Drug and Nonprescription Drug Advisory Committees voted overwhelmingly to recommend that Plan B, an emergency contraceptive treatment, be made available over-the-counter; and

WHEREAS, in February 2004, the Food and Drug Administration announced a ninety-day delay in its decision to allow Plan B to be dispensed over-the-counter; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the Senate concurring, that the Federal Food and Drug Administration is requested to approve Plan B, allowing emergency contraception to be dispensed over-the-counter; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and members of Hawaii's congressional delegation.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Over-the-Counter Access for Emergency Contraception