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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the disposal of unused pharmaceuticals so that they do |
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not enter a wastewater system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 562.0061, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 562.0061. OTHER PRESCRIPTION INFORMATION. The board |
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shall adopt rules specifying the information a pharmacist must |
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provide to a consumer when dispensing a prescription to the |
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consumer for self-administration. The information must [be]: |
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(1) be written in plain language; |
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(2) be relevant to the prescription; [and] |
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(3) be printed in an easily readable font size; and |
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(4) include the statement, "Do not flush unused |
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medications or pour down a sink or drain." |
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SECTION 2. (a) In this section, "commission" means the |
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Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. |
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(b) The commission shall study and make recommendations |
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regarding the methods to be used by consumers, health care |
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providers, and others for disposing of unused pharmaceuticals so |
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that they do not enter a wastewater system. In conducting the |
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study, the commission shall consider: |
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(1) the methods currently used in this state by |
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consumers, health care providers, and others for that purpose; |
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(2) alternative methods used for that purpose, |
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including the methods used in other states; and |
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(3) the effects on public health and the environment |
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of the various methods used for that purpose. |
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(c) In conducting the study, the commission may solicit |
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input from: |
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(1) the Health and Human Services Commission; |
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(2) the Department of Public Safety of the State of |
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Texas; |
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(3) pharmaceutical manufacturers; |
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(4) pharmacies; |
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(5) health care providers, including home health care |
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providers; |
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(6) hospitals; |
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(7) clinics; |
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(8) long-term care facilities; |
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(9) entities that engage in medical waste processing |
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and handling; |
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(10) solid waste management service providers; |
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(11) local governments; |
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(12) ranchers and farmers; |
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(13) end users of medication; |
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(14) water utilities and other water suppliers; |
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(15) the United States Postal Service; |
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(16) the United States Environmental Protection |
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Agency; and |
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(17) any other entity the commission considers |
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necessary. |
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(d) Not later than December 1, 2010, the commission shall |
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submit a report of the results of the study to the legislature. The |
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report must include: |
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(1) the commission's recommendations regarding the |
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methods to be used by consumers, health care providers, and others |
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for disposing of unused pharmaceuticals so that they do not enter a |
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wastewater system; and |
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(2) an analysis of the feasibility of implementing the |
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recommended disposal methods on a statewide basis. |
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(e) This section expires January 1, 2011. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |