SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Two Democratic lawmakers in Utah have proposed a bill that would allow incarcerated women to continue receiving contraceptives, including birth control, while imprisoned in state jails.
Bill sponsors Rep. Jen Dailey-Provost and Sen. Luz Escamilla said the legislation would require jails to provide inmates with the option to continue their medically prescribed methods of contraception if approved, KUTV-TV reported. It also states generic forms of the medications may be provided.
Dailey-Provost said in a post on Twitter that hormonal contraceptives are “healthcare” and “essential.”
“If the medication is stopped, when the individual is released, the protection of the medication is gone and won’t be regained for at least another month back on the closing,” Dailey-Provost said. “There are literally dozens of health conditions, besides pregnancy prevention, for which hormonal contraceptives are used.”
According to Planned Parenthood, birth control can also be used for painful periods, heavy bleeding and premenstrual syndrome.
The bill passed the House Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday. It will next head to the House floor.
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