SRC-LBB, AMY S.B. 957 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 957
By: Van de Putte
Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
8/24/2003
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas State Veterans Homes Program (TSVH) is contracting
with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) to provide
pharmaceuticals to state veterans homes, to take advantage of cost
savings.  However, Texas law does not allow the USDVA to provide or stock
the emergency medication kits for the homes; TSVH must use outside
pharmacies for these services, which increases the TSVH's overall
pharmaceutical costs.  S.B. 957 authorizes a veterans home to contract
with a USDVA pharmacy, or another federally operated pharmacy, to maintain
a veterans home's emergency medical kit. 

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 Subsection (a), Occupations Code, to authorize a United
States Department of Veterans Affairs pharmacy or another federally
operated pharmacy to maintain controlled substances and dangerous drugs in
an emergency medication kit used at an institution that is licensed under
Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, and is a veterans home, as defined by
Section 164.002, Natural Resources Code. Makes a nonsubstantive change. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.