SRC-VRA S.B. 939 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 939 By: Janek Health & Human Services 3/16/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, there is a shortage of specialty pharmacists in Texas. Increasing the permissable 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. As proposed, S.B. 939 would require the ratio of pharmacists to pharmacy technicians in a Class A pharmacy to be at least one pharmacist for every five pharmacy technicians. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 568, Occupations Code, by adding Section 568.006, as follows: Sec. 568.006. RATIO OF PHARMACISTS TO PHARMACY TECHNICIANS. Requires the ratio of pharmacists to pharmacy technicians in a Class A pharmacy to be at least one pharmacist for every five pharmacy technicians. Requires the pharmacy to dispense no more than 20 different types of prescription drugs. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2003.