Of numerous new laws set to take effect when the new year begins Monday, few will have as significant an effect for as many people as a measure allowing pharmacists to prescribe birth control.

Whereas previously patients needed to visit their doctor to be prescribed hormonal and emergency contraceptives, the new law gives pharmacists the ability to dole out certain types of birth control on their own.

Here is what to know.

What does the law do?

Under the new law, pharmacists who complete a training program will be permitted to prescribe hormonal contraceptives (including preventative pills, patches and vaginal rings) and emergency contraceptives (drugs taken following sex to prevent pregnancy) to patients 16 and older.

Currently some contraceptive methods, such as morning-after pills, are available over the counter, but most require a prescription from a doctor.

The change, which mirrors similar laws in other states, will make it easier for people seeking these birth control methods to obtain them.

How did it pass?

Gov. Ned Lamont began pushing for the policy in January, citing a need to reinforce reproductive rights following the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe vs. Wade, which guaranteed a right to abortion.

The bill cleared the state's House of Representatives overwhelmingly and the Senate unanimously, and Lamont signed it into law June 13.

"We should be doing everything we can to ensure that patients have access to contraceptives," Lamont said in a statement. "By enacting this law, we are removing barriers that can sometimes prevent women from accessing birth control."

What are the benefits of the law?

Proponents of the new measure say it will help more people acquire contraception, thereby reducing unplanned pregnancies. They note that pharmacies, more so than doctor's offices, are convenient and accessible for nearly all residents, including those in rural areas.

According to one study examining the effects of a similar law in California, 97 percent of those who visited a pharmacy for a birth control prescription were satisfied with the process, and 96 percent said they were likely to return.

The bill drew support from the Connecticut Pharmacists Association and the National Community Pharmacists Association, as well the UConn School of Pharmacy, whose dean argued pharmacists are "the most accessible primary health care professionals readily available within the health care system."

What are potential drawbacks?

The primary concern over the proposal was whether pharmacists were adequately equipped to prescribe this type of medication.

During a public hearing in March, state Sen. Saud Anwar, a Democrat from South Windsor who is also a practicing physician, noted that some patients may face higher risk of side effects than others. This evaluation, he argued, was "better addressed by a clinician" than by a pharmacist.

Other legislators raised similar worries, questioning whether pharmacists would have all the patient information necessary to make informed decisions.

Ultimately, four Democrats and 20 Republicans voted against the measure, which nonetheless passed easily.

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