1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the administration and enforcement of the peer

 1-3     assistance program under the Texas Pharmacy Act.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 27A, Texas Pharmacy Act (Article 4542a-1,

 1-6     Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by adding Subsection (k)

 1-7     to read as follows:

 1-8           (k)  In administering and enforcing this section, the board

 1-9     shall adopt rules or minimum criteria that are at least as strict

1-10     as the rules or minimum criteria for the administration or

1-11     enforcement of a peer assistance program adopted by the Texas

1-12     Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse under Chapter 467, Health and

1-13     Safety Code.

1-14           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-15     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-16     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-17     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-18     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-19     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-20     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 1724 was passed by the House on April

         15, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 1724 was passed by the Senate on May

         12, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor