AUSTIN, Texas — What women know about emergency contraception is not enough, according to two bills proposed in the Texas House. But supporters of each measure disagree about why more information might be needed.

Those who favor one proposal say rape victims might want emergency contraception, but not know how or where to get it.

The other side wants to make sure women who do get it are told exactly how the pill works, in case it interferes with their moral or religious beliefs.

Emergency contraception, also called the morning-after pill or Plan B, can be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. It works like birth control, using hormones to stop ovulation and make it harder for an egg to take hold.

A bill pushed by Democratic Rep. Jessica Farrar of Houston would make sure sexual assault survivors are told about Plan B and offered it immediately in the emergency room.

The other measure filed by Republican Rep. Frank Corte of San Antonio would require pharmacists to tell women exactly how emergency contraception can block an egg that may already be fertilized.

"If you happen to be one of those who believe (life) starts at that point, then it matters to you how emergency contraception operates," said Kathi Seay, Corte's policy adviser. "I think that when people talk about emergency contraception, that aspect of it is generally not explained."

The bill would also require pharmacies dispensing the pill to post an 18-by-24 inch sign in English and Spanish at the cash register telling would-be customers that if they believe life begins at fertilization, emergency contraception may prevent their pregnancy.

Opponents say that is an invasion of privacy that might shame women seeking the morning-after pill.

Sarah Cleveland, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice of Texas, says women who seek emergency contraception are acting responsibly to prevent an abortion later on and the proposed legislation is unnecessary.

"It's unnecessary, and it's humiliating to require a woman to be lectured by her pharmacist," Cleveland said.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas says the language used on the sign is biased, and objects to the Legislature getting involved in a private medical issue.

"The best place for a woman to get information is from her medical provider," said Terri Burke, executive director of ACLU Texas. "Let's think about some other drugs where the language is technical and confusing — are they going to legislate on them, too?"

But Corte's office says the legislation is purely about educating people who may not know Plan B could interfere with their beliefs.

"For a lot of people, it truly does not matter how it works," Seay said.

The FDA and gynecologists have said that a pregnancy begins when an egg takes hold, but Catholics and some other religious groups are among those who dispute that. They say life begins when an egg is fertilized.

"When the egg and sperm unite, that is the moment when a new human being is created," said Jennifer Allmon, associate director of the Texas Catholic Conference.

Though the Catholic conference doesn't have a position on Corte's bill, it opposes Farrar's bill because of the implications for Catholic hospitals and Catholics who might work with sexual assault victims.

"Especially requiring a health care provider to act against their conscience in assisting anyone in an action that ends a human life would be gravely, morally inappropriate," Allmon said.

A similar bill to offer Plan B information to sexual assault survivors was left in committee in 2005 after strong opposition from Catholic organizations.

Supporters of the bill say it may work to prevent abortions because women who become pregnant after an assault often choose to end the pregnancy.

"The problem is not every woman is going to be able to access emergency contraception," Farrar said. "If she's in a small town, if she's not had a lot of exposure, or for some reason wasn't exposed to this information she won't know that she could avert a pregnancy and avert an abortion."

Torie Camp, deputy director of the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, says one in five women in the state have been sexually assaulted and pregnancy is one major concern. The group supported similar legislation in the past and wants to see rape victims have better access to Plan B.

"Pregnancy is obviously a concern of sexual assault survivors, and emergency contraception may help ease that fear," Camp said.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reports that in one survey half of women who became pregnant after a rape had an abortion. It recommends that rape victims be offered Plan B.

Some hospitals already offer information and Plan B in emergency care after a sexual assault, but there is no consistent policy.

Cleveland says she thinks in the past some people confused emergency contraception with RU-486, a pill used to abort a fetus in the early stages of pregnancy. Now that more people are aware of Plan B, she said she hopes Farrar's bill will have a better chance.

___

The pharmacy bill is HB44.

The sexual assault bill is HB2221.