Wisconsin

Senate Bill 155 (2005)

Introduction

 During 2005 the bill was referred to the Committee on Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care and the Committee on Labor and Election Process Reform, and a public hearing was held. It failed to pass the Senate in May, 2006 [Administrator]

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SECTION 1. 111.337 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 111.337 (1) (intro.) and amended to read:

111.337 (1) (intro.) Employment discrimination because of creed includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:

(a) Refusing to reasonably accommodate an employee's or prospective employee's religious observance or practice unless the employer can demonstrate that the accommodation would pose an undue hardship on the employer's program, enterprise, or business.

SECTION 2. 111.337 (1) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

111.337 (1) (b) Discriminating against any pharmacist licensed under ch. 450 by engaging in any of the actions prohibited under s. 111.322 on the basis of the pharmacist's refusal to dispense a prescribed drug or device because the pharmacist believes that the drug or device would be used for the purpose of any of the following:

1. Causing an abortion, as defined in s. 253.10 (2) (a).

2. Causing the death of any person, if the pharmacist consults with the practitioner who prescribed the drug or device before the pharmacist makes the refusal.

SECTION 3. 450.135 of the statutes is created to read:

450.135 Pharmacist's refusal to dispense for abortions, assisted suicides, and euthanasia.

(1) In this section, "abortion" has the meaning given in s. 253.10 (2) (a).

(2) No pharmacist may be required to dispense a prescribed drug or device if the pharmacist believes that the drug or device would be used for the purpose of any of the following:

(a) Causing an abortion.

(b) Causing the death of any person, if the pharmacist consults with the practitioner who prescribed the drug or device before the pharmacist makes the refusal.

(3) A pharmacist's refusal to dispense a prescribed drug or device because he or she believes that the drug or device would be used for a purpose described in sub. (2) (a) or (b) may not be the basis for any of the following:

(a) A claim for damages against the pharmacist or the pharmacy of the pharmacist.

(b) Disciplinary action by the board or department against the pharmacist.

SECTION 4.0 Initial applicability.

(1) This act first applies to refusals made on the effective date of this subsection.