ALBANY - The Legislature on Monday supported a new bill that would allow pharmacists to offer the “morning after” contraceptive pill to girls and women without prescription.

Lawmakers said the new version addresses most of the concerns that led to Gov. George Pataki's veto of an earlier bill. Pataki, who supports abortion rights, had said he wanted minors to see a physician first. He also wanted to limit the number of pills dispensed and to prohibit men from getting the pills to encourage unprotected sex.

The amended legislation would allow pharmacists to dispense only a single dose at a time and only to women. Information about sexually-transmitted diseases would also be made available and prescriptions could only be dispensed within the same county as the patient's residence. It does not set age limits.