BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1947

By: Watson

Agriculture & Livestock

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There have been calls to revise regulations regarding the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances by veterinarians, including requiring veterinarians to complete continuing education related to opioids and controlled substances. S.B. 1947 provides for such revisions.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1947 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) to make available to the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME) for purposes of routine inspections and investigations certain information reported to the Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS) of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and to the TSBP by a wholesale distributor regarding the distribution of a controlled substance by the distributer to a person in Texas.

S.B. 1947 amends the Occupations Code to require the TBVME to require a veterinarian to complete two hours of continuing education related to opioid abuse and controlled substance diversion, inventory, and security every two years to renew a license to practice veterinary medicine. This requirement applies only to the renewal of a license on or after September 1, 2020.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.