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119-hr-8366119th Congress

PEARL Act

Sponsored By: Representative Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]

Introduced

Summary

Protects pharmacists' religious refusal to dispense abortion drugs. This bill would let pharmacists decline to dispense or sell mifepristone and misoprostol when doing so conflicts with their sincerely held religious beliefs.

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  • Pharmacists: State-licensed pharmacists, including those employed by private businesses or government agencies, are protected from punishment for refusing to dispense these drugs. Protections include shields against license revocation and withdrawal of Federal funding.
  • Legal remedy: Pharmacists could bring a private civil action in Federal district court to seek an injunction against anyone forcing or punishing the refusal. The remedy is injunctive relief only and does not authorize monetary damages.
  • Scope and override: The bill defines "pharmacist" as a person licensed by a State to practice pharmacy and covers dispensing and selling of prescription drugs. It overrides other laws to the extent they conflict with a pharmacist's religious refusal.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Pharmacist religious refusal protection

If enacted, State-licensed pharmacists would not be required to dispense or sell the abortion drugs mifepristone or misoprostol when doing so would conflict with their sincerely held religious beliefs. This would cover pharmacists who work for private companies and those employed by government agencies. The bill would bar punishments, including revoking a pharmacy license or cutting Federal funding, for such refusals. A pharmacist could sue in Federal district court and seek an injunction to stop a requirement or punishment. The protection would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]

TN • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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