It took five years, but it’s now the law. Gov. Bill Ritter has signed the bill to require health care providers to provide information about emergency contraception to rape victims.

The measure, by Sen. Betty Boyd, D-Lakewood, and Rep. Anne McGihon, D-Denver, requires hospitals, pharmacies and rape assistance centers to notify rape victims about the morning-after pill, also known as Plan B.

“A lot of people put a lot of effort and energy into this bill,” Gov. Bill Ritter said as he signed it. “It says that if you’re a health care provider in the state and you’re confronted with a sexual assault victim, you must provide her with information about emergency contraception. We believe this is an important step.”

What about those who oppose on moral grounds?

Colorado’s measure allows individual health care workers to opt out of providing the information, based on religious or moral beliefs. But all hospitals must have someone on staff who can provide rape victims with the information.