The Associated Press reported the Assembly Bill 343, titled the UW Birth Control Ban, was passed by the lower chamber in a 49-41 vote.
The bill was introduced by Representative Daniel LeMahieu in April following an incident at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. According to reports, the campus health clinic published ads in campus newspapers advertising the option for morning-after pill prescriptions in an attempt to avoid unwanted pregnancies during spring break.
The bill aims to ban University of Wisconisn System health centers from advertising, prescribing, or distributing emergency contraception - sparking a debate between pro-choice and pro-life groups.
According to MTV.com, more than 161,000 students attend the university.
LeMahieu was quoted by the AP, "Are we going to change the lifestyle of every UW student? No. But we can tell the university that you are not going to condone it, you are not going to participate in it, and you are not going to use our tax dollars to do it."
Democrats who oppose the bill, claim it denies rape victims the opportunity to avoid pregnancy and it will increase the number of unwanted pregnancies and abortions. Opposers accuse the bill of being vague, leading to the possibly prohibiting of all oral contraceptives.
MTV.com reports that emergency contraception has been available for 25 years, potentally preventing 1.7 million pregnancies and 800,000 abortions yearly in the U.S.
The morning-after pill contains hormones that reduce pregnancy for up to five days after unprotected intercourse - the pill has a 95% success rate.
Reportedly, University of Wisconsin students are currently able to purchase the pill at discount rates from campus pharmacies funded by student fees.
Wisconsin is also considering laws to allow pharmacists the right to refuse filling birth control prescriptions on religious and moral grounds - South Dakota, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Georgia currrently impose those laws.
New Hampshire, Alask, Hawaii, California, Maine, New Mexico, and Washington are among those states that allow the sale of emergency birth control without a prescription.
