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By:  Ellis, Gallegos                                              S.B. No. 518
	(In the Senate - Filed February 15, 2005; February 28, 2005, 
read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Human 
Services; May 16, 2005, reported adversely, with favorable 
Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; 
May 16, 2005, sent to printer.)


COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 518                                    By:  Nelson


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to the provision of certain information regarding free and 
discounted drugs by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 554, Occupations Code, is 
amended by adding Section 554.016 to read as follows:
	Sec. 554.016.  FREE AND DISCOUNTED DRUG OFFER INFORMATION.  
(a)  The board shall:
		(1)  contact pharmaceutical companies to request 
information on any free or discounted drug offers made by the 
companies;
		(2)  on the board's Internet website, post information 
and create links to other websites on free or discounted drug offers 
made by pharmaceutical companies; and
		(3)  notify each person licensed under this subtitle 
regarding the free and discounted drug information available on the 
board's Internet website.
	(b)  Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, 
the board shall file with the presiding officer of each house of the 
legislature a report on:
		(1)  the information obtained by the board regarding 
free and discounted drug offers made by pharmaceutical companies;
		(2)  the information provided by the board on its 
Internet website about those offers; and
		(3)  recommendations for changes to the program or for 
legislation necessary to increase the success of the program.
	SECTION 2.  (a)  As soon as practicable after the date the 
Texas State Board of Pharmacy posts the information required under 
Section 554.016, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, the 
pharmacy board shall notify the Department of State Health Services 
and the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners of the availability 
of the information on the pharmacy board's Internet website.
	(b)  As soon as practicable after the date the Texas State 
Board of Pharmacy posts the information required under Section 
554.016, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, the Department of 
State Health Services shall notify all city and county health 
departments, hospital districts, and other governmental health 
care providers of the free and discounted drug offer information 
available on the pharmacy board's Internet website.
	(c)  As soon as practicable after the date the Texas State 
Board of Pharmacy posts the information required under Section 
554.016, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, the Texas State 
Board of Medical Examiners shall notify all physicians licensed in 
this state of the free and discounted drug offer information 
available on the pharmacy board's Internet website.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.



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