By: Madla S.B. No. 609
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to the regulation of pharmacies and pharmacists; providing
1-2 a penalty.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 5, Texas Pharmacy Act (Article 4542a-1,
1-5 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 5. DEFINITIONS. In this Act, unless the context of
1-7 its use clearly indicates otherwise:
1-8 (1) "A.C.P.E." means the American Council on
1-9 Pharmaceutical Education.
1-10 (2) "Administer" means the direct application of a
1-11 prescription drug by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or any other
1-12 means to the body of a patient by:
1-13 (A) a practitioner, an authorized agent under
1-14 his supervision, or other person authorized by law; or
1-15 (B) the patient at the direction of a
1-16 practitioner.
1-17 (3) "Administrative Procedure Act" means Chapter 2001,
1-18 Government Code [the Administrative Procedure and Texas Register
1-19 Act, as amended (Article 6252-13a, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes)].
1-20 (4) "Board" means the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.
1-21 (5) "Class A pharmacy license" or "community pharmacy
1-22 license" means a license issued to a pharmacy dispensing drugs or
1-23 devices to the general public pursuant to a prescription drug
2-1 order.
2-2 (6) "Class B pharmacy license" or "nuclear pharmacy
2-3 license" means a license issued to a pharmacy dispensing or
2-4 providing radioactive drugs or devices for administration to an
2-5 ultimate user.
2-6 (7) "Class C pharmacy license" or "institutional
2-7 pharmacy license" means a license issued to a pharmacy located in a
2-8 hospital or other in-patient facility that is licensed under
2-9 Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code, or Chapter 6, Texas Mental
2-10 Health Code (Article 5547-1 et seq., Vernon's Texas Civil
2-11 Statutes), to a hospice in-patient facility that is licensed under
2-12 Chapter 142, Health and Safety Code, or to a pharmacy located in a
2-13 hospital maintained or operated by the state.
2-14 (8) "Class D pharmacy license" or "clinic pharmacy
2-15 license" means a license issued to a pharmacy dispensing a limited
2-16 type of drugs or devices pursuant to a prescription drug order.
2-17 (9) "Class E pharmacy license" or "nonresident
2-18 pharmacy license" means a license issued under this Act to a
2-19 pharmacy located in a state of the United States other than this
2-20 state whose primary business is to dispense a prescription drug or
2-21 device under a prescription drug order and to deliver the drug or
2-22 device to a patient, including a patient in this state, by the
2-23 United States mail, a common carrier, or a delivery service.
2-24 (10) [(11)] "College of pharmacy" means a school,
2-25 university, or college of pharmacy that satisfies the accreditation
3-1 standards of A.C.P.E. as adopted by the board; or that has degree
3-2 requirements which meet the standards of accreditation set by the
3-3 board.
3-4 (11) [(12)] "Compounding" means the preparation,
3-5 mixing, assembling, packaging, or labeling of a drug or device:
3-6 (A) as the result of a practitioner's
3-7 prescription drug order or initiative based on the
3-8 practitioner-patient-pharmacist relationship in the course of
3-9 professional practice;
3-10 (B) in anticipation of prescription drug orders
3-11 based on routine, regularly observed prescribing patterns; or
3-12 (C) for the purpose of or as an incident to
3-13 research, teaching, or chemical analysis and not for sale or
3-14 dispensing.
3-15 (12) [(13)] "Confidential record" means any
3-16 health-related record that contains information that identifies an
3-17 individual and that is maintained by a pharmacy or pharmacist such
3-18 as a patient medication record, prescription drug order, or
3-19 medication order.
3-20 (13) [(14)] "Controlled substance" means a drug,
3-21 immediate precursor, or other substance listed in Schedules I-V or
3-22 Penalty Groups 1-4 of Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, or a
3-23 drug, immediate precursor, or other substance included in Schedule
3-24 I, II, III, IV, or V of the Federal Comprehensive Drug Abuse
3-25 Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (21 U.S.C. Section 801 et seq.).
4-1 (14) [(15)] "Controlled Substances Act" means Chapter
4-2 481, Health and Safety Code, or the Federal Comprehensive Drug
4-3 Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (21 U.S.C. Section 801 et
4-4 seq.).
4-5 (15) [(16)] "Dangerous drug" means any drug or device
4-6 that is not included in Penalty Groups 1-4 of the Controlled
4-7 Substances Act and that is unsafe for self-medication or any drug
4-8 or device that bears or is required to bear the legend:
4-9 (A) "Caution: federal law prohibits dispensing
4-10 without prescription"; or
4-11 (B) "Caution: federal law restricts this drug
4-12 to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian."
4-13 (16) [(17)] "Dangerous Drug Act" means Chapter 483,
4-14 Health and Safety Code.
4-15 (17) [(18)] "Deliver" or "delivery" means the actual,
4-16 constructive, or attempted transfer of a prescription drug or
4-17 device or controlled substance from one person to another, whether
4-18 or not for a consideration.
4-19 (18) [(19)] "Designated agent" means:
4-20 (A) a licensed nurse, physician assistant,
4-21 pharmacist, or other individual designated by a practitioner, and
4-22 for whom the practitioner assumes legal responsibility, who
4-23 communicates prescription drug orders to a pharmacist;
4-24 (B) a licensed nurse, physician assistant, or
4-25 pharmacist employed in a health care facility to whom the
5-1 practitioner communicates a prescription drug order; or
5-2 (C) a registered nurse or physician assistant
5-3 authorized by a practitioner to carry out a prescription drug order
5-4 for dangerous drugs under Subdivision (5) or (6), Subsection (d),
5-5 Section 3.06, Medical Practice Act (Article 4495b, Vernon's Texas
5-6 Civil Statutes).
5-7 (19) [(20)] "Device" means an instrument, apparatus,
5-8 implement, machine, contrivance, implant, in vitro reagent, or
5-9 other similar or related article, including any component part or
5-10 accessory, that is required under federal or state law to be
5-11 ordered or prescribed by a practitioner.
5-12 (20) [(21)] "Dispense" means preparing, packaging,
5-13 compounding, or labeling for delivery a prescription drug or device
5-14 in the course of professional practice to an ultimate user or his
5-15 agent by or pursuant to the lawful order of a practitioner.
5-16 (21) [(22)] "Distribute" means the delivery of a
5-17 prescription drug or device other than by administering or
5-18 dispensing.
5-19 (22) [(23)] "Drug" means:
5-20 (A) a substance recognized as drugs in the
5-21 current official United States Pharmacopoeia, official National
5-22 Formulary, official Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia, or other drug
5-23 compendium or any supplement to any of them;
5-24 (B) a substance intended for use in the
5-25 diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in
6-1 man or other animals;
6-2 (C) a substance, other than food, intended to
6-3 affect the structure or any function of the body of man or other
6-4 animals;
6-5 (D) a substance intended for use as a component
6-6 of any articles specified in Paragraph (A), (B), or (C) of this
6-7 subdivision;
6-8 (E) a dangerous drug; or
6-9 (F) a controlled substance.
6-10 (23) [(24)] "Drug regimen review" includes the
6-11 following activities:
6-12 (A) evaluation of prescription drug or
6-13 medication orders and patient medication records for:
6-14 (i) known allergies;
6-15 (ii) rational therapy-contraindications;
6-16 (iii) reasonable dose and route of
6-17 administration; and
6-18 (iv) reasonable directions for use;
6-19 (B) evaluation of prescription drug or
6-20 medication orders and patient medication records for duplication of
6-21 therapy;
6-22 (C) evaluation of prescription drug or
6-23 medication orders and patient medication records for:
6-24 (i) drug-drug interactions;
6-25 (ii) drug-food interactions;
7-1 (iii) drug-disease interactions;
7-2 (iv) adverse drug reactions; and
7-3 (D) evaluation of prescription drug and
7-4 medication orders and patient medication records for proper
7-5 utilization, including overutilization or underutilization.
7-6 (24) [(25)] "Internship" means a practical experience
7-7 program that is approved by the board.
7-8 (25) [(26)] "Label" means written, printed, or graphic
7-9 matter on the immediate container of a drug or device.
7-10 (26) [(27)] "Labeling" means the process of affixing a
7-11 label including all information required by federal and state law
7-12 or regulation to any drug or device container. The term does not
7-13 include the labeling by a manufacturer, packer, or distributor of a
7-14 nonprescription drug or commercially packaged prescription drug or
7-15 device, or unit dose packaging.
7-16 (27) [(28)] "Manufacturing" means the production,
7-17 preparation, propagation, conversion, or processing of a drug or
7-18 device, either directly or indirectly, by extraction from
7-19 substances of natural origin or independently by means of chemical
7-20 or biological synthesis and includes any packaging or repackaging
7-21 of the substances or labeling or relabeling of the container and
7-22 the promotion and marketing of such drugs or devices.
7-23 Manufacturing also includes the preparation and promotion of
7-24 commercially available products from bulk compounds for resale by
7-25 pharmacies, practitioners, or other persons but does not include
8-1 compounding.
8-2 (28) [(29)] "Medication order" means an order from a
8-3 practitioner or a practitioner's designated agent for
8-4 administration of a drug or device.
8-5 (29) [(30)] "Nonprescription drug" means a nonnarcotic
8-6 drug or device that may be sold without a prescription and that is
8-7 labeled and packaged in compliance with applicable state or federal
8-8 law.
8-9 (30) [(31)] "Patient counseling" means the
8-10 communication by the pharmacist of information, as specified in the
8-11 rules of the board, to the patient or caregiver, in order to
8-12 improve therapy by ensuring proper use of drugs and devices.
8-13 (31) [(32)] "Person" means an individual, corporation,
8-14 government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust,
8-15 estate, trust, partnership, association, or any other legal entity.
8-16 (32) [(33)] "Pharmaceutical care" is the provision of
8-17 drug therapy and other pharmaceutical services defined in the rules
8-18 of the board and intended to assist in the cure or prevention of a
8-19 disease, elimination or reduction of a patient's symptoms, or
8-20 arresting or slowing of a disease process.
8-21 (33) [(34)] "Pharmacist" means a person licensed by
8-22 the board to practice pharmacy.
8-23 (34) [(35)] "Pharmacist-in-charge" means the
8-24 pharmacist designated on a pharmacy license as the pharmacist who
8-25 has the authority or responsibility for a pharmacy's compliance
9-1 with laws and rules pertaining to the practice of pharmacy.
9-2 (35) [(36)] "Pharmacist-intern" means an undergraduate
9-3 student enrolled in the professional sequence of a college of
9-4 pharmacy approved by the board and participating in a school-based,
9-5 board-approved internship program or a graduate of a college of
9-6 pharmacy who is participating in a board-approved internship.
9-7 (36) [(37)] "Pharmacy" means a facility at which
9-8 prescription drug or medication orders are received, processed, or
9-9 dispensed under this Act, the Dangerous Drug Act, or the Controlled
9-10 Substances Act [licensed by the board pursuant to Section 29 of
9-11 this Act].
9-12 (37) "Pharmacy technician" means an individual
9-13 employed by a pharmacy whose responsibility is to provide technical
9-14 services that do not require professional judgment regarding the
9-15 preparation and distribution of drugs and who works under the
9-16 direct supervision of and is responsible to a pharmacist.
9-17 (38) "Practice of pharmacy" means:
9-18 (A) provision of those acts or services
9-19 necessary to provide pharmaceutical care;
9-20 (B) interpretation and evaluation of
9-21 prescription drug orders or medication orders;
9-22 (C) participation in drug and device selection
9-23 as authorized by law, drug administration, drug regimen review, or
9-24 drug or drug-related research;
9-25 (D) provision of patient counseling;
10-1 (E) responsibility for:
10-2 (i) dispensing of prescription drug orders
10-3 or distribution of medication orders;
10-4 (ii) compounding and labeling of drugs and
10-5 devices, except labeling by a manufacturer, repackager, or
10-6 distributor of nonprescription drugs and commercially packaged
10-7 prescription drugs and devices;
10-8 (iii) proper and safe storage of drugs and
10-9 devices; or
10-10 (iv) maintenance of proper records for
10-11 drugs and devices; and
10-12 (F) performance of a specific act of drug
10-13 therapy management for a patient delegated to a pharmacist by a
10-14 written protocol from a physician licensed in this state in
10-15 compliance with the Medical Practice Act (Article 4495b, Vernon's
10-16 Texas Civil Statutes).
10-17 (39) "Practitioner" means:
10-18 (A) a physician, dentist, podiatrist,
10-19 veterinarian, or other person licensed or registered to prescribe,
10-20 distribute, administer, or dispense a prescription drug or device
10-21 in the course of professional practice in this state;
10-22 (B) a person licensed by another state in a
10-23 health field in which, under Texas law, licensees in this state may
10-24 legally prescribe dangerous drugs or a person practicing in another
10-25 state and licensed by another state as a physician, dentist,
11-1 veterinarian, or podiatrist, having a current Federal Drug
11-2 Enforcement Administration registration number, and who may legally
11-3 prescribe Schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substances in such
11-4 other state; or
11-5 (C) a person licensed in the Dominion of Canada
11-6 or the United Mexican States in a health field in which, under the
11-7 laws of this state, a licensee may legally prescribe dangerous
11-8 drugs. "Practitioner" does not include a person licensed under
11-9 this Act.
11-10 (40) "Preceptor" means a pharmacist [in good standing]
11-11 licensed in this state to practice pharmacy who meets the preceptor
11-12 requirements specified by rule and who is certified by the board to
11-13 supervise and be responsible for the activities and functions of a
11-14 pharmacist-intern in the internship program.
11-15 (41) "Prescription drug" means:
11-16 (A) a substance for which federal or state law
11-17 requires a prescription before it may be legally dispensed to the
11-18 public;
11-19 (B) a drug or device that under federal law is
11-20 required, prior to being dispensed or delivered, to be labeled with
11-21 either of the following statements:
11-22 (i) "Caution: federal law prohibits
11-23 dispensing without prescription"; or
11-24 (ii) "Caution: federal law restricts this
11-25 drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian"; or
12-1 (C) a drug or device that is required by any
12-2 applicable federal or state law or regulation to be dispensed on
12-3 prescription only or is restricted to use by a practitioner only.
12-4 (42) "Prescription drug order" means:
12-5 (A) an order from a practitioner or a
12-6 practitioner's designated agent to a pharmacist for a drug or
12-7 device to be dispensed; or
12-8 (B) an order pursuant to Subdivision (5) or (6),
12-9 Subsection (d), Section 3.06, Medical Practice Act (Article 4495b,
12-10 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes).
12-11 (43) "Prospective drug use review" means a review of
12-12 the patient's drug therapy and prescription drug order or
12-13 medication order, as defined in the rules of the board, prior to
12-14 dispensing or distributing the drug.
12-15 (44) "Provide" means to supply one or more unit doses
12-16 of a nonprescription drug or dangerous drug to a patient.
12-17 (45) "Radioactive drug" means a drug that exhibits
12-18 spontaneous disintegration of unstable nuclei with the emission of
12-19 nuclear particles or photons, including any nonradioactive reagent
12-20 kit or nuclide generator that is intended to be used in the
12-21 preparation of any such substance.
12-22 (46) "Substitution" means the dispensing of a drug or
12-23 a brand of drug other than that which is ordered or prescribed.
12-24 (47) "Texas trade association" means a nonprofit,
12-25 cooperative association of business or professional competitors in
13-1 this state whose purpose is to assist its members, industry, or
13-2 profession and whose members have joined voluntarily. ["Supportive
13-3 personnel" means those individuals utilized in pharmacies whose
13-4 responsibility it shall be to provide technical services that do
13-5 not require professional judgment concerned with the preparation
13-6 and distribution of drugs under the direct supervision of and
13-7 responsible to a pharmacist.]
13-8 (48) "Ultimate user" means a person who has obtained
13-9 and possesses a prescription drug or device for the person's own
13-10 use or for the use of a member of the person's household or for
13-11 administering to an animal owned by the person or by a member of
13-12 the person's household.
13-13 (49) "Unit dose packaging" means the ordered amount of
13-14 drug in a dosage form ready for administration to a particular
13-15 patient, by the prescribed route at the prescribed time, and
13-16 properly labeled with name, strength, and expiration date of the
13-17 drug.
13-18 (50) "Written protocol" means a physician's order,
13-19 standing medical order, standing delegation order, or other order
13-20 or protocol as defined by rule of the Texas State Board of Medical
13-21 Examiners under the Medical Practice Act (Article 4495b, Vernon's
13-22 Texas Civil Statutes).
13-23 SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 8, Texas Pharmacy Act
13-24 (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to
13-25 read as follows:
14-1 (a) A licensed pharmacist member of the board:
14-2 (1) may not be:
14-3 (A) a salaried faculty member at a college of
14-4 pharmacy; or
14-5 (B) an officer, employee, or paid consultant of
14-6 a Texas trade association in the field of health care or a spouse
14-7 of an officer, employee, or paid consultant; and
14-8 (2) must at the time of his appointment:
14-9 (A) [(1)] be a resident of this state;
14-10 (B) [(2)] be licensed for the five years
14-11 immediately preceding appointment and be in good standing to engage
14-12 in the practice of pharmacy in this state; and
14-13 (C) [(3)] be engaged in the practice of pharmacy
14-14 in this state.
14-15 SECTION 3. Section 8, Texas Pharmacy Act (Article 4542a-1,
14-16 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by adding Subsection (f)
14-17 to read as follows:
14-18 (f) The board shall provide to its members, as often as
14-19 necessary, information regarding their qualifications for office or
14-20 employment under this Act and their responsibilities under
14-21 applicable laws relating to standards of conduct for state officers
14-22 or employees.
14-23 SECTION 4. Subsection (c), Section 14, Texas Pharmacy Act
14-24 (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to
14-25 read as follows:
15-1 (c) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, all
15-2 board meetings and hearings shall be open to the public. The board
15-3 may, in its discretion and in accordance with the open meetings
15-4 law, Chapter 551, Government Code, [Chapter 271, Acts of the 60th
15-5 Legislature, Regular Session, 1967, as amended (Article 6252-17,
15-6 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes),] conduct any portion of its meeting
15-7 in executive session. The board may in its discretion conduct
15-8 deliberations relative to licensee disciplinary actions in
15-9 executive session. At the conclusion of its deliberations relative
15-10 to licensee disciplinary action, the board shall vote and announce
15-11 its decision relative to the licensee in open session. The board
15-12 in executive session may conduct disciplinary hearings relating to
15-13 a pharmacist or pharmacy student who is impaired because of
15-14 chemical abuse or mental or physical illness.
15-15 SECTION 5. Subsections (c), (d), and (f), Section 15, Texas
15-16 Pharmacy Act (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), are
15-17 amended to read as follows:
15-18 (c) An officer, employee, or paid consultant of a Texas
15-19 trade association in the field of health care may not be an [a
15-20 member or] employee of the board who is exempt from the state's
15-21 position classification plan or is compensated at or above the
15-22 amount prescribed by the General Appropriations Act for step 1,
15-23 salary group 17, of the position classification salary schedule.
15-24 (d) A person who is the spouse of an officer, manager, or
15-25 paid consultant of a Texas trade association in the field of health
16-1 care may not be a [board member and may not be a] board employee
16-2 who is exempt from the state's position classification plan or is
16-3 compensated at or above the amount prescribed by the General
16-4 Appropriations Act for step 1, salary group 17, of the position
16-5 classification salary schedule.
16-6 (f) The board shall provide to its [members and] employees,
16-7 as often as necessary, information regarding their qualification
16-8 for office or employment under this Act and their responsibilities
16-9 under applicable laws relating to standards of conduct for state
16-10 officers or employees.
16-11 SECTION 6. Subsections (o) and (q), Section 17, Texas
16-12 Pharmacy Act (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), are
16-13 amended to read as follows:
16-14 (o) The board:
16-15 (1) shall [may] establish rules for the use of
16-16 pharmacy technicians [supportive personnel] and the duties of those
16-17 technicians [personnel] in pharmacies licensed by the board,
16-18 provided that those technicians [personnel] are responsible to and
16-19 directly supervised by a pharmacist licensed by the board; provided
16-20 however that the board may not adopt rules or regulations
16-21 establishing ratios of pharmacists to pharmacy technicians
16-22 [supportive personnel] in Class C pharmacies; and
16-23 (2) may determine and issue standards for recognition
16-24 and approval of training programs for pharmacy technicians and
16-25 maintain a list of training programs that meet the standards.
17-1 (q) Board investigative files and all information and
17-2 materials compiled by the board in connection with an investigation
17-3 are confidential and are not subject to disclosure under Chapter
17-4 552, Government Code [424, Acts of the 63rd Legislature, Regular
17-5 Session, 1973, as amended (Article 6252-17a, Vernon's Texas Civil
17-6 Statutes)], and are not subject to disclosure, discovery, subpoena,
17-7 or other means of legal compulsion for their release to anyone
17-8 other than the board or its employees or agents involved in
17-9 licensee discipline except that this information may be disclosed
17-10 to:
17-11 (1) persons involved with the board in a disciplinary
17-12 action against the licensee;
17-13 (2) pharmacist or pharmacy licensing or disciplinary
17-14 authorities of other jurisdictions;
17-15 (3) a pharmaceutical peer review committee as outlined
17-16 in Section 27A of this Act;
17-17 (4) law enforcement agencies; and
17-18 (5) persons engaged in bona fide research, if all
17-19 individual-identifying information has been deleted.
17-20 SECTION 7. Subsection (a), Section 17D, Texas Pharmacy Act
17-21 (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to
17-22 read as follows:
17-23 (a) The board by rule shall adopt procedures governing:
17-24 (1) informal disposition of a contested case under
17-25 Chapter 2001, Government Code [Section 13(e), Administrative
18-1 Procedure and Texas Register Act (Article 6252-13a, Vernon's Texas
18-2 Civil Statutes), and its subsequent amendments]; and
18-3 (2) informal proceedings held in compliance with
18-4 Chapter 2001, Government Code [Section 18(c), Administrative
18-5 Procedure and Texas Register Act (Article 6252-13a, Vernon's Texas
18-6 Civil Statutes), and its subsequent amendments].
18-7 SECTION 8. Subsections (a), (f), and (g), Section 19, Texas
18-8 Pharmacy Act (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), are
18-9 amended to read as follows:
18-10 (a) A person may not:
18-11 (1) dispense or distribute prescription drugs unless
18-12 he is a licensed pharmacist or is authorized by this Act to
18-13 dispense or distribute prescription drugs; or
18-14 (2) operate a pharmacy unless he first obtains a
18-15 license to operate a pharmacy.
18-16 (f) This Act does not apply to:
18-17 (1) a member of the faculty of a college of pharmacy
18-18 that is recognized by the board if the faculty member is a licensed
18-19 pharmacist and performs his services for the benefit of the college
18-20 only;
18-21 (2) [a pharmacist-intern;]
18-22 [(3)] a person who procures prescription drugs for
18-23 lawful research, teaching, or testing and not for resale; or
18-24 (3) [(4)] a home and community support services agency
18-25 that possesses a dangerous drug as authorized by Section 142.0061,
19-1 Health and Safety Code.
19-2 (g) Any person found by the board to have unlawfully engaged
19-3 in the practice of pharmacy or unlawfully operated a pharmacy is
19-4 subject to a civil penalty under Section 37A of this Act [fine to
19-5 be imposed by the board not to exceed $1,000 for each offense].
19-6 Each violation of this Act or the rules adopted under this Act
19-7 pertaining to unlawfully engaging in the practice of pharmacy or
19-8 unlawfully operating a pharmacy also constitutes a Class A
19-9 misdemeanor.
19-10 SECTION 9. Section 20, Texas Pharmacy Act (Article 4542a-1,
19-11 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
19-12 Sec. 20. PHARMACIST-INTERN REGISTRATION. (a) A person
19-13 must register with the board before beginning the board-approved
19-14 internship in this state. An application for the registration of a
19-15 pharmacist-intern must be on a form prescribed by the board.
19-16 Registration shall remain in effect as long as the person meets the
19-17 qualifications for internship as specified by rules adopted by the
19-18 board [during internship training and thereafter until the earlier
19-19 of the following occurs:]
19-20 [(1) the failure of the pharmacist-intern to take the
19-21 next regularly scheduled examination; or]
19-22 [(2) the failure to pass the next regularly scheduled
19-23 examination].
19-24 (b) The board may in its discretion refuse to issue a
19-25 registration to an applicant and may restrict, suspend, or revoke a
20-1 pharmacist-intern registration for any violation of this Act. In
20-2 enforcing Section 26(a)(4) of this Act, the board shall, on
20-3 probable cause, request a pharmacist-intern or pharmacist-intern
20-4 applicant to submit to a mental or physical examination by
20-5 physicians or other health care professionals designated by the
20-6 board. If the pharmacist-intern or applicant refuses to submit to
20-7 the examination, the board shall issue an order requiring the
20-8 pharmacist-intern or applicant to show cause why he will not submit
20-9 to the examination and shall schedule a hearing on the order within
20-10 30 days after notice is served on the pharmacist-intern or
20-11 applicant. The board shall notify the pharmacist-intern or
20-12 applicant by either personal service or certified mail with return
20-13 receipt requested. At the hearing, the pharmacist-intern or
20-14 applicant and an attorney are entitled to present any testimony and
20-15 other evidence to show why the pharmacist-intern or applicant
20-16 should not be required to submit to the examination. After the
20-17 hearing, the board shall issue an order either requiring the
20-18 pharmacist-intern or applicant to submit to the examination or
20-19 withdrawing the request for examination.
20-20 SECTION 10. Subsections (a) and (e), Section 21, Texas
20-21 Pharmacy Act (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), are
20-22 amended to read as follows:
20-23 (a) To qualify for a license to practice pharmacy, an
20-24 applicant for licensing by examination must submit to the board a
20-25 license fee as determined by the board and a completed application
21-1 on a form prescribed by the board with satisfactory sworn evidence
21-2 that he:
21-3 (1) is at least 18 years old;
21-4 (2) is of good moral character;
21-5 (3) has completed a minimum of a 1,000-hour internship
21-6 or other program that has been approved by the board or has
21-7 demonstrated, to the board's satisfaction, experience in the
21-8 practice of pharmacy that meets or exceeds the minimum internship
21-9 requirements of the board;
21-10 (4) has graduated and received a [the first
21-11 professional undergraduate degree or the advanced] professional
21-12 practice degree, as defined by the rules adopted by the board, from
21-13 an accredited pharmacy degree program approved by the board;
21-14 (5) has passed the examination required by the board;
21-15 and
21-16 (6) has not had a pharmacist license granted by
21-17 another state suspended, revoked, canceled, surrendered, or
21-18 otherwise restricted for any reason.
21-19 (e) The [Within 30 days after the date a licensing
21-20 examination is administered under this Act, the] board shall notify
21-21 each examinee of the results of the examination[. However, if an
21-22 examination is graded or reviewed by a national testing service,
21-23 the board shall notify each examinee of the results of the
21-24 examination] within 30 days [two weeks] after the date the board
21-25 receives the results from a national [the] testing service. [If
22-1 the notice of the examination results will be delayed for more than
22-2 90 days after the examination date, the board shall notify the
22-3 examinee of the reason for the delay before the 90th day.]
22-4 SECTION 11. Subsection (a), Section 22, Texas Pharmacy Act
22-5 (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to
22-6 read as follows:
22-7 (a) To qualify for a license to practice pharmacy by
22-8 reciprocity, an applicant for licensing must:
22-9 (1) submit to the board a reciprocity fee as
22-10 determined by the board and a completed application given under
22-11 oath, in the form prescribed by the board;
22-12 (2) have good moral character;
22-13 (3) have graduated and received a [the first
22-14 professional undergraduate degree or the advanced] professional
22-15 practice degree, as defined by the rules adopted by the board, from
22-16 an accredited pharmacy degree program approved by the board;
22-17 (4) have possessed at the time of initial licensing as
22-18 a pharmacist other qualifications necessary to have been eligible
22-19 for licensing at that time in this state;
22-20 (5) have presented to the board proof of initial
22-21 licensing by examination and proof that the license and other
22-22 license or licenses granted to the applicant by any other state
22-23 have not been suspended, revoked, canceled, surrendered, or
22-24 otherwise restricted for any reason; and
22-25 (6) pass the Texas [Drug and] Pharmacy Jurisprudence
23-1 examination.
23-2 SECTION 12. Subsection (b), Section 26, Texas Pharmacy Act
23-3 (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to
23-4 read as follows:
23-5 (b) Grounds for Disciplining a Holder of a Pharmacy License:
23-6 The board shall refuse to issue a pharmacy license for failure to
23-7 meet the requirements of Section 29 or 30 of this Act. The board
23-8 may in its discretion refuse to issue or renew a license or may
23-9 assess a penalty, reprimand, revoke, restrict, cancel, or suspend
23-10 any license granted by the board, and may probate any license
23-11 suspension if the board finds that the applicant or licensee has:
23-12 (1) been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor
23-13 involving moral turpitude, or if the applicant or licensee is a
23-14 legal entity such as an association, joint stock company,
23-15 partnership, or corporation, that a managing officer has been
23-16 convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude
23-17 under the law of this state, another state, or the United States;
23-18 (2) advertised any prescription drugs or devices in a
23-19 deceitful, misleading, or fraudulent manner;
23-20 (3) violated any provision of this Act or any rule
23-21 adopted under this Act or that any owner or employee of a pharmacy
23-22 has violated any provision of this Act or any rule adopted under
23-23 this Act;
23-24 (4) sold without legal authorization prescription
23-25 drugs or devices to persons other than:
24-1 (A) a pharmacy licensed by the board;
24-2 (B) a practitioner;
24-3 (C) a person who procures prescription drugs or
24-4 devices for the purpose of lawful research, teaching, or testing,
24-5 and not for resale;
24-6 (D) a manufacturer or wholesaler registered with
24-7 the commissioner of health as required by Chapter 431, Health and
24-8 Safety Code; or
24-9 (E) a carrier or warehouseman;
24-10 (5) allowed an employee who is not a licensed
24-11 pharmacist to practice pharmacy;
24-12 (6) sold adulterated or misbranded prescription or
24-13 nonprescription drugs;
24-14 (7) failed to engage in or ceased to engage in the
24-15 business described in the application for a license;
24-16 (8) failed to keep and maintain records as required by
24-17 this Act, the Controlled Substances Act, Dangerous Drug Act, or
24-18 rules adopted under this Act or the Dangerous Drug Act; [or]
24-19 (9) failed to establish and maintain effective
24-20 controls against diversion of prescription drugs into other than
24-21 legitimate medical, scientific, or industrial channels as provided
24-22 by this Act or other state or federal laws or rules; or
24-23 (10) engaged in any fraud, deceit, or
24-24 misrepresentation as defined by the rules adopted by the board in
24-25 operating a pharmacy or in seeking a license to operate a pharmacy.
25-1 SECTION 13. Subsection (c), Section 26A, Texas Pharmacy Act
25-2 (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to
25-3 read as follows:
25-4 (c) Any disciplinary action taken by the board under this
25-5 section is governed by the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter
25-6 2001, Government Code [and Texas Register Act (Article 6252-13a,
25-7 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes]) and the rules of practice and
25-8 procedure adopted by the board.
25-9 SECTION 14. Section 27, Texas Pharmacy Act (Article 4542a-1,
25-10 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
25-11 Sec. 27. PROCEDURE. Except as provided in Section 27A of
25-12 this Act, any disciplinary action taken by the board under Section
25-13 26, 26A, or 26B of this Act is governed by the Administrative
25-14 Procedure Act (Chapter 2001, Government Code [and Texas Register
25-15 Act (Article 6252-13a, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes]) and the
25-16 rules of practice and procedure before the board.
25-17 SECTION 15. Subsection (d), Section 27A, Texas Pharmacy Act
25-18 (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to
25-19 read as follows:
25-20 (d) The records and proceedings of the board, its authorized
25-21 agents, or any pharmaceutical organization committee as set out in
25-22 Subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be confidential and
25-23 are not considered open records for the purposes of Chapter 552,
25-24 Government Code [424, Acts of the 63rd Legislature, Regular
25-25 Session, 1973, as amended (Article 6252-17a, Vernon's Texas Civil
26-1 Statutes)]; provided, however, the board may disclose this
26-2 confidential information only:
26-3 (1) in a disciplinary hearing before the board or in a
26-4 subsequent trial or appeal of a board action or order;
26-5 (2) to the pharmacist licensing or disciplinary
26-6 authorities of other jurisdictions;
26-7 (3) pursuant to an order of a court of competent
26-8 jurisdiction; or
26-9 (4) pursuant to Subsection (j) of this section.
26-10 SECTION 16. Subsection (c), Section 27B, Texas Pharmacy Act
26-11 (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to
26-12 read as follows:
26-13 (c) The identity of a person who reports to or assists the
26-14 board under this section and any document that could disclose the
26-15 identity of that person is confidential and does not constitute
26-16 public information for the purposes of Chapter 552, Government Code
26-17 [424, Acts of the 63rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1973 (Article
26-18 6252-17a, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes)].
26-19 SECTION 17. Subsection (a), Section 28, Texas Pharmacy Act
26-20 (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to
26-21 read as follows:
26-22 (a) On the finding of the existence of grounds for
26-23 discipline of any person holding a license or seeking a license or
26-24 a renewal license under this Act, the board may impose one or more
26-25 of the following penalties:
27-1 (1) suspension of the offender's license;
27-2 (2) revocation of the offender's license;
27-3 (3) restriction of the offender's license to prohibit
27-4 the offender from performing certain acts or from engaging in the
27-5 practice of pharmacy or operating a pharmacy in a particular manner
27-6 for a term and under conditions to be determined by the board;
27-7 (4) imposition of an administrative penalty under
27-8 Section 28B of this Act;
27-9 (5) refusal to issue or renew the offender's license;
27-10 (6) placement of the offender's license on probation
27-11 and supervision by the board for a period to be determined by the
27-12 board and imposition of a requirement that the licensee:
27-13 (A) report regularly to the board on matters
27-14 that are the basis of the probation;
27-15 (B) limit practice to the areas prescribed by
27-16 the board; [or]
27-17 (C) continue or review professional education
27-18 until the licensee attains a degree of skill satisfactory to the
27-19 board in those areas that are the basis of the probation; or
27-20 (D) pay the board a probation fee to defray the
27-21 costs of monitoring a licensee during the period of probation;
27-22 (7) reprimand;
27-23 (8) cancellation of the offender's license; or
27-24 (9) retirement of the offender's license as provided
27-25 by board rule[; or]
28-1 [(10) imposition of a civil penalty that does not
28-2 exceed $1,000 for each day of each violation and that may be
28-3 collected in a suit initiated by the board].
28-4 SECTION 18. Subsection (e), Section 29, Texas Pharmacy Act
28-5 (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to
28-6 read as follows:
28-7 (e) The board shall have the discretion to determine under
28-8 which classifications a pharmacy applicant may be licensed. With
28-9 respect to Class C pharmacies, the board may establish rules for
28-10 the use of pharmacy technicians [supportive personnel] and the
28-11 duties of those technicians [personnel] in Class C pharmacies
28-12 licensed by the board, provided that these technicians [personnel]
28-13 are responsible to and directly supervised by a pharmacist licensed
28-14 by the board; provided, however, the board may not adopt any rule
28-15 setting ratios with respect to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
28-16 [supportive personnel] or limiting the number of pharmacy
28-17 technicians [supportive personnel] that may be utilized.
28-18 SECTION 19. Section 35, Texas Pharmacy Act (Article 4542a-1,
28-19 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
28-20 Sec. 35. UNLAWFUL USE OF "PHARMACY." (a) A person may
28-21 not display in or on any store or place of business the word
28-22 "pharmacy," either in English or any other language, any other word
28-23 or combination of words of the same or similar meaning, or any
28-24 graphic representation that would mislead or tend to mislead the
28-25 public unless it is a pharmacy licensed under this Act.
29-1 (b) A person may not advertise any store or place of
29-2 business as a pharmacy or provide pharmacy services unless the
29-3 facility is a pharmacy licensed under this Act.
29-4 SECTION 20. The Texas Pharmacy Act (Article 4542a-1,
29-5 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) is amended by adding Section 37A to
29-6 read as follows:
29-7 Sec. 37A. CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A person who violates the
29-8 license requirements of this Act is liable to the state for a civil
29-9 penalty of up to $1,000 for each day the violation continues.
29-10 (b) At the request of the board, the attorney general shall
29-11 institute an action to collect a civil penalty from a person who
29-12 has violated this Act or rules adopted under this Act.
29-13 (c) If the attorney general fails to take action within 30
29-14 days of referral from the board, the board shall refer the case to
29-15 the local district attorney, county attorney, or city attorney.
29-16 The district attorney, county attorney, or city attorney shall file
29-17 suit in a district court to collect and retain the penalty.
29-18 SECTION 21. Subdivisions (10) and (11), Section 483.001,
29-19 Health and Safety Code, are amended to read as follows:
29-20 (10) "Pharmacy" means a facility where prescription
29-21 drug or medication orders are received, processed, dispensed, or
29-22 distributed under this chapter, Chapter 481, and the Texas Pharmacy
29-23 Act (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) [licensed by
29-24 the board pursuant to Section 29, Texas Pharmacy Act (Article
29-25 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes)].
30-1 (11) "Practice of pharmacy" means:
30-2 (A) provision of those acts or services
30-3 necessary to provide pharmaceutical care;
30-4 (B) interpretation and evaluation of
30-5 prescription drug orders or medication orders;
30-6 (C) participation in drug and device selection
30-7 as authorized by law, drug administration, drug regimen review, or
30-8 drug or drug-related research;
30-9 (D) provision of patient counseling; [and]
30-10 (E) responsibility for:
30-11 (i) dispensing of prescription drug orders
30-12 or distribution of medication orders in the patient's best
30-13 interest;
30-14 (ii) compounding and labeling of drugs and
30-15 devices, except labeling by a manufacturer, repackager, or
30-16 distributor of nonprescription drugs and commercially packaged
30-17 prescription drugs and devices;
30-18 (iii) proper and safe storage of drugs and
30-19 devices; and
30-20 (iv) maintenance of proper records for
30-21 drugs and devices. In this subdivision, "device" has the meaning
30-22 assigned by the Texas Pharmacy Act (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas
30-23 Civil Statutes); and
30-24 (F) performance of a specific act of drug
30-25 therapy management for a patient delegated to a pharmacist by a
31-1 written protocol from a physician licensed by the state under the
31-2 Medical Practice Act (Article 4495b, Vernon's Texas Civil
31-3 Statutes).
31-4 SECTION 22. Subsection (b), Section 483.003, Health and
31-5 Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
31-6 (b) On making that finding, the Texas Board of Health
31-7 [board] may limit the availability of the abused drug by permitting
31-8 its dispensing only on the prescription of a practitioner described
31-9 by Section 483.001(12)(A) or (B).
31-10 SECTION 23. Subsection (e), Section 483.042, Health and
31-11 Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
31-12 (e) The labeling provisions of Subsection (a) do not apply
31-13 to a dangerous drug prescribed or dispensed for administration to a
31-14 patient who is institutionalized. The board shall adopt rules for
31-15 the labeling of such a drug [food production animals in an
31-16 agricultural operation under a written medical directive or
31-17 treatment guideline from a veterinarian licensed under The
31-18 Veterinary Licensing Act (Article 8890, Revised Statutes) and its
31-19 subsequent amendments].
31-20 SECTION 24. Chapter 107, Acts of the 41st Legislature,
31-21 Regular Session, 1929 (Article 4542a, Vernon's Texas Civil
31-22 Statutes), is repealed.
31-23 SECTION 25. Subsection (b), Section 26A, Texas Pharmacy Act
31-24 (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), as amended by
31-25 Section 7, Chapter 789, Acts of the 73rd Legislature, 1993, is
32-1 repealed.
32-2 SECTION 26. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
32-3 SECTION 27. (a) This Act applies only to a license issued
32-4 by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy on or after the effective date
32-5 of this Act. A license issued or renewed before that date is
32-6 governed by the law in effect on the date the license was issued or
32-7 renewed, and the former law is continued in effect for that
32-8 purpose.
32-9 (b) Section 37A, Texas Pharmacy Act (Article 4542a-1,
32-10 Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), as added by this Act, applies only
32-11 to a violation of the licensing requirements of the Texas Pharmacy
32-12 Act (Article 4542a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) that occurs on
32-13 or after the effective date of this Act.
32-14 SECTION 28. The importance of this legislation and the
32-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
32-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
32-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
32-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.