SRC-DBM S.B. 1889 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1889
By: Nelson
Health Services
5/2/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, pharmacy technicians working in Texas are not required to be
certified.  The Texas Board of Pharmacy is considering rules which would
set minimum standards and require certification of pharmacy technicians.
There have been instances where untrained children are filling
prescriptions, labeling medication bottles, and dispensing drugs without
the appropriate oversight of a pharmacist. S.B. 1889 would regulate
pharmacy technicians. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1889 regulates pharmacy technicians.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 17(o), Article 4542a-1, V.T.C.S.(Texas Pharmacy
Act), to delete text prohibiting the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (board)
from adopting rules or regulations establishing ratios of pharmacists to
pharmacy technicians in Class C pharmacies. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Article 4542a-1, V.T.C.S.(Texas Pharmacy Act), by adding
Section 20A, as follows: 

Sec. 20A.  QUALIFICATIONS FOR AND SUPERVISION OF PHARMACY TECHNICIANS.
Sets forth certain requirements and provisions regarding pharmacy
technicians required by board, in establishing rules under Section 17(o) of
this Act. 

SECTION 3.  (a)  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

(b)  Requires that the rule of the Texas State Board of Pharmacy requiring
that technicians pass the national pharmacy technician certification
program, as provided by Subdivision (2), Section 20A (Article 4542a-1,
V.T.C.S.(Texas Pharmacy Act)), as added by this Act, to be effective
September 1, 1999. 

SECTION 4.Emergency clause.