Hartford ― The Public Health Committee on Monday passed a bill allowing pharmacists to prescribe birth control.

State Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton proposed the legislation with State Sen. Ryan Fazio, R-Greenwich to increase access to birth control, especially to women working in under-served or rural areas. She said there are always a “few bumps in the road” and there was originally a little bit of push-back from some doctors.

Since then, the bill has been refined to mirror what other states have done, she said. Pharmacists would receive the training they need, as well as their technicians.

Locally, the committee bill is co-sponsored by Somers, and state Reps. Aundré Bumgardner, D-Groton, Devin Carney, R-Old Lyme, and Holly Cheeseman, R-East Lyme.

The Public Health Committee also passed a bill that would allow emergency contraception to be sold in vending machines on college campuses. Locally, the bill is co-sponsored by Carney and Cheeseman. Plan B already is available over the counter but not every pharmacy is open 24/7, and this is a time-sensitive issue, so the bill would help increase access for college students, Somers said.

Both bills next move to the General Assembly for consideration.

“I think it’s very positive that they both have bipartisan support to be able to make it across the finish line of the legislative process,” she said.

k.drelich@theday.com