FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 480

92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES EMERY, RECTOR, MYERS, COOPER (155), BOUGH,

PHILLIPS, SANDER, REINHART, MOORE, VIEBROCK, DIXON, NIEVES (Co-sponsors), BIVINS,

STEVENSON, BEHNEN, BEARDEN, JETTON, VILLA, DEEKEN, THRELKELD, QUINN,

ERVIN AND BAKER.

         Read 1^st time February 17, 2003, and copies ordered printed.

STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk

1384L.01I

AN ACT

To amend chapter 338, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to pharmacies and pharmacists.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

            Section A. Chapter 338, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 338.200, to read as follows:

            338.200. 1. No pharmacist, public or private, shall be required to fill a prescription, if the filling of such prescription is contrary to the established policy of, or the moral, ethical or religious beliefs of, such pharmacist. No cause of action shall accrue against any such pharmacist on account of such refusal to fill a prescription.

            2. No person shall be denied or discriminated against in the reception of any public benefit, assistance or privilege whatsoever or in any employment, public or private, on the grounds that such person refuses to fill certain prescriptions.

            3. Any person who shall deny or discriminate against a pharmacist for refusal to fill a prescription shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity or other redress.