S.B. 939 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 939 By: Janek Public Health Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, there is a shortage of specialty pharmacists in Texas. Increasing the permissible number of technicians per pharmacist from three to five would address this shortage by allowing the specialty pharmacists to have more time to interact with their patients. Specialty pharmacies are adversely affected by the current pharmacist/technician ratio because technicians are involved in producing the product rather than handling refills and performing other routine tasks. 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. ANALYSIS Amends Chapter 568, Occupations Code by adding Section 568.006. The ratio of pharmacist to technicians in a Class A pharmacy must be at least one pharmacist for every 5 pharmacy technicians. The Class A pharmacy must not dispense more than 20 different types of prescription drugs and can not produce intravenous or intramuscular drugs on-site. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003.