A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT requiring the department of health and human services, division of mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services, to develop and make available to women receiving treatment or services for alcohol or substance use disorders educational materials on long‑acting, reversible contraception.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 3A of Chapter 122C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 122C‑82.  Contraceptive education for women in treatment for alcohol or substance use disorder.
(a)	As used in this section, "long‑acting, reversible contraceptive drug or device" or "LARC method" means a contraceptive drug or device that meets all of the following criteria:
(1)	Is a method of birth control that provides effective contraception for an extended period of time without depending upon user action.
(2)	Is designed as a temporary method of birth control that the user can elect to discontinue.
(3)	Has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for use as a contraceptive.
(4)	Is obtained under a prescription written by a health care provider authorized to prescribe medications under the laws of this State.
(b)	The Division, in consultation with the Division of Public Health, shall develop and make available, free of charge to the general public on its Internet Web site, in a format that can be downloaded, printable publications containing medically accurate information that is sufficient to allow a woman receiving treatment or services for alcohol or substance use disorder to make an informed decision about whether to use a LARC method while in recovery from alcohol or substance use disorder. The publications shall include at least all of the following information:
(1)	An explanation of the LARC methods approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
(2)	An explanation of the medical processes involved in initiating and discontinuing the LARC methods approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
(3)	An explanation of the benefits associated with the use of LARC methods approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
(4)	An explanation of the contraindications, risks, and side effects associated with each of the LARC methods approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
(5)	An explanation of the effects of prenatal alcohol or drug exposure to developing fetuses.
(6)	An explanation of the short‑term and long‑term effects of prenatal alcohol or drug exposure to newborns.
(c)	The Division shall make available, free of charge to the following entities by request, printed copies of the educational materials developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section:
(1)	Local health departments. Each local health department shall distribute these educational materials to female clients in conjunction with the provision of any alcohol or substance use disorder treatment or services.
(2)	Alcohol and drug treatment centers operated under the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services pursuant to G.S. 122C‑181. Each alcohol and drug treatment center shall distribute these educational materials to female clients in conjunction with the provision of any alcohol or substance use disorder treatment or services.
(3)	Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) participating in the medication‑assisted treatment pilot program authorized by Section 12F.1 of S.L. 2016‑94. Each participating FQHC shall distribute these educational materials to female clients in conjunction with the provision of any alcohol or substance use disorder treatment or services.
(4)	All private providers of alcohol and substance use disorder services. The Department shall encourage providers to distribute these educational materials to female clients as a part of the services they provide.
(d)	Nothing in this section shall be construed to require, or authorize another entity to require, a woman to use a LARC method as a condition for receiving alcohol or substance use disorder treatment or services."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2017.