Students are divided over the Birth Control Protection Act proposal (SB-225), new legislation that defines contraceptives as “any medically acceptable drug, device or procedure used to prevent pregnancy.”

The controversial bill was released by the president of the Senate and DU public policy professor Peter Groff after being approved by the House on March 23. It is now headed to the governor’s desk for approval.

The bill, which is an attempt to end any argument that birth control is a form of abortion, was presented in the wake of Amendment 48 that appeared and was defeated on last year’s ballot.

Amendment 48 would have made some contraceptives illegal by giving legal status to fertilized eggs in the Colorado Constitution. The proposal was defeated by a 3-1 margin at the polls, according to Planned Parenthood of the Rockies.

The proposal of the Birth Control Protection Act also followed on the heels of new federal legislation which would make contraceptives more affordable for women who obtain them through college clinics.

“Today’s victory on the state level reaffirms that birth control is basic, preventative health care…Women have struggled for years to afford the rising costs of basic contraception,” said Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains President and CEO Vicki Cowart.

While the State Legislature has backed the bill, DU students have mixed opinions.

Jeremy Lynch, president of the College Republicans, said the legislation is highly problematic.

“Senate Bill 225 codifies the ability to destroy life after conception because some contraceptive methods prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. Contraception that prevents conception is OK in the state statute but after the joining of egg and sperm it is inappropriate and morally reprehensible,” Lynch said.

However, other students support the bill, arguing that the choice to use birth control belongs to the woman and not to the government.

“It should be up to the woman taking the birth control whether or not she wants to have children…The government should have no say in it. I think the [bill] passing protecting that right is a good thing,” said Matt Vigil, a sophomore who says he doesn’t align himself with the left or the right.

If signed, the statute will go into effect on Aug. 5.