BILL ANALYSIS



H.B. 1504
By: Van de Putte
03-28-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

In 1983, the Legislature gave the Texas State Board of Pharmacy the
authority to fund a peer assistance program to identify and assist
pharmacists and pharmacy students who are physically, chemically,
or mentally impaired. To fund the program, the legislation
established a $1 surcharge for each person licensed by the agency.
In 1991, the cap on the amount of the surcharge was increased to
$5.

Since the creation in 1983 of the assistance program, known as the
Pharmacist Recovery Network (PRN), more than 500 pharmacists have
been assisted by this peer assistance program.  This program pays
for the initial evaluation for pharmacists and pharmacy students,
the training of pharmacists intervenors, and the training of
pharmacy students and pharmacists about chemical dependency. As the
numbers of pharmacists entering the PRN program have increased, it
has become apparent that the $5 surcharge is not adequate to fund
the program.

PURPOSE

To increase the cap on the amount the Board of Pharmacy may add to
the license fee to fund a peer assistance program for impaired
pharmacists and pharmacy students to $10.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly
grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer,
department, agency or institution.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 27A of the Texas Pharmacy Act (Article
4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) by increasing the cap on
the surcharge that may be added to a license or license renewal fee
to $10 in Subsection (g).

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 27A of the Texas Pharmacy Act by making
non-substantive clean-up amendments to Subsection (j).

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1995.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

H.B. 1504 was considered by the Public Health Committee in a public
hearing on March 28, 1995.

The following person testified in favor of the bill:
Representative Van de Putte, author of the bill.

The bill was reported favorably without amendment, with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed and be sent to the
Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, by a record vote of 7
Ayes, 0 Nays, 0 PNV, and 2 Absent.