H.R. 8366 · 119th Congress · House

PEARL Act

Active· Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced
Apr 20, 26
Passed House
Pending
Passed Senate
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending
← Back to billSourceXMLTXTPDF
119TH CONGRESS2D SESSION

H. R. 8366

A BILL

To protect the religious freedom of pharmacists choosing not to dispense or sell abortion-inducing drugs.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the Pharmacists Ethical Autonomy and Religious Liberties Act or the PEARL Act.

SEC. 2. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM PROTECTION FOR PHARMACISTS CHOOSING NOT TO DISPENSE OR SELL ABORTION-INDUCING DRUGS.

  1. (a)
    In general—

    Notwithstanding any other law, a pharmacist (including a pharmacist employed by a private business or government agency) shall not be required to dispense or sell, nor be subject to any punishment (including revocation of a license to practice pharmacy or the withdrawal of Federal funding) for choosing not to dispense or sell, the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol for abortion services, if such dispensing or sale would conflict with the sincerely held religious beliefs of the pharmacist.

  2. (b)
    Private right of action—

    A pharmacist who is required to dispense or sell, or is punished for choosing not to dispense or sell, the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol for abortion services in violation of subsection (a) may bring a civil action in Federal district court for injunctive relief against the person imposing such requirement or punishment.

  3. (c)
    Pharmacist defined—

    The term pharmacist means a person licensed by a State to practice pharmacy, including the dispensing and selling of prescription drugs.