Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 730 amends provisions of the Texas Pharmacy Act relating to the licensing and regulation of pharmacies, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. The act includes a pharmacy located in a licensed ambulatory surgical center among the medical facilities required to obtain a Class C pharmacy license. The act requires the Texas State Board of Pharmacy to determine and issue standards for recognition and approval of pharmacist certification programs, including a requirement prohibiting a pharmacist from using the designation "board certified" unless the pharmacist has successfully completed a certification program that meets board standards. The act authorizes the board to determine that licenses may be renewed biennially, rather than annually, and changes the continuing education requirement to no fewer than 24 hours during the preceding 24 months of the applicant's license period.

            The act requires the board to determine and issue standards for recognition and approval of pharmacy technician training programs and maintain a list of board-approved training programs that meet those standards. It also adds requirements for the board relating to qualifications and supervision of pharmacy technicians and requirements relating to pharmacy technician registration.

            The board is also permitted to license a pharmacy that has substantially completed the requirements for licensing. The act modifies provisions concerning the date by which a pharmacy must file an application and pay the renewal fee to maintain a license and specifies that a person petitioning for reinstatement of a license under the act has the burden of proof.

            Senate Bill 730 adds requirements relating to the duty of every entity providing liability insurance to a pharmacy, pharmacy technician, druggist, or pharmacy license holder to submit certain information to the board.

            The effective date of the act is September 1, 1999, with the exception of provisions relating to qualifications and supervision of pharmacy technicians, which take effect January 1, 2001, and provisions relating to pharmacy technician registration, which take effect September 1, 2001.