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.