Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 65 amends the Occupations Code to establish the definition of "telepharmacy system" as a system that monitors the dispensing of drugs and provides related drug use review and patient counseling services by an electronic method. The automated system must be under the continuous supervision of a pharmacist by electronic means. The bill specifies that automated pharmacy systems may only be located at health care facilities regulated by the state or the federal government and requires the State Pharmacy Board to adopt rules regarding the use of automated pharmacy systems, including the types of facilities where automated systems may be located, recordkeeping requirements, and security requirements. The bill prohibits locating a telepharmacy system in communities in which certain other pharmacies are located.

            The bill also amends the Utilities Code to extend the provision allowing the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board to award a grant to a project or proposal under the telecommunications infrastructure fund to include telepharmacy systems.