The following highlights recent news of state and local actions on women's health-related issues.

Contraceptive Access

• New Jersey: The General Assembly on Monday voted 56-18 to approve a bill (S 1195) that would require pharmacists to fill prescriptions for any drug, including contraceptives, regardless of a pharmacist's moral, philosophical or religious beliefs, the AP/Long Island Newsday reports (AP/Long Island Newsday, 6/11). The bill also would require pharmacies to refer patients immediately to another pharmacy and have the prescription transferred if the drug is not in stock. The Senate approved the measure in June 2006 (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 6/28/06). The bill now goes to Gov. Jon Corzine (D) for consideration, the AP/Newsday reports (AP/Long Island Newsday, 6/11).

Sex Education

• Maryland: The Montgomery County, Md., Board of Education on Tuesday voted 6-1 to approve a new sex education curriculum that teaches eighth- and 10th-grade students about sexual and gender identity issues and that includes a condom demonstration video, the Washington Post reports (de Vise, Washington Post, 6/13). The board in January voted 8-0 to approve a pilot program to test the curriculum, which includes two 45-minute classes for eighth-graders and three 45-minute classes for 10th-graders. Only students whose parents have provided written consent can participate in the lessons. The curriculum was tested at six schools in the spring. A citizens advisory committee earlier this month asked Superintendent Jerry Weast in a memo to add five statements concerning homosexuality and same-sex attraction. Weast and his staff rejected most of the additions, but he said teachers would be allowed to tell students that homosexuality is not a mental illness or a disease if they ask about it. The groups Citizens for a Responsible Curriculum, Family Leader Network and Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays on Feb. 7 filed a petition against implementation of the curriculum with the Maryland State Board of Education. A decision on the petition is expected this summer (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 6/12). About 35 protesters on Tuesday gathered outside the school board headquarters to protest the board's approval of the lessons, the Post reports (Washington Post, 6/13).

Stem Cell Research

• New Jersey: Rep. Neil Cohen (D) on Tuesday said Corzine and state lawmakers have reached an agreement to hold a referendum in November to ask voters to approve borrowing $450 million to fund stem cell research in the state over 10 years, the AP/Bergen Record reports. If approved, the funds would be used to award grants to institutions -- including colleges, universities, and state and local government agencies -- that conduct research on both adult and embryonic stem cells and umbilical cord blood, Cohen said. He added that he expects lawmakers to adopt legislation that would authorize the referendum by the end of this month (AP/Bergen Record, 6/13). In addition, Economic Development Authority on Tuesday approved $9.1 million to begin construction of the Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey, a $150 million research institute in New Brunswick that is expected to take three years to build, the Newark Star-Ledger reports. The funds are part of a $270 million pool of state funds authorized by a law Corzine signed last year. Marie Tasy, executive director of New Jersey Right to Life, said the group's position is that it is "in favor of stem cell research as long as it doesn't allow embryonic (stem cell research) and the cloning and killing of human beings, which New Jersey's law allows" (McNichol, Newark Star-Ledger, 6/13).