By: Hinojosa  S.B. No. 2316
         (In the Senate - Filed March 8, 2019; March 21, 2019, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Health & Human Services;
  April 23, 2019, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; April 23, 2019,
  sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 2316 By:  Perry
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to controlled substance prescriptions under the Texas
  Controlled Substances Act; creating a criminal offense.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 481.003(a), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The director may adopt rules to administer and enforce
  this chapter, other than Sections 481.073, 481.074, 481.075,
  481.076, 481.0761, 481.0762, 481.0763, 481.0764, 481.0765,
  481.07655, [and] 481.0766, 481.0767, 481.0768, and 481.0769.  The
  board may adopt rules to administer Sections 481.073, 481.074,
  481.075, 481.076, 481.0761, 481.0762, 481.0763, 481.0764,
  481.0765, 481.07655, [and] 481.0766, 481.0767, 481.0768, and
  481.0769.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 481, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Sections 481.07655, 481.0767, 481.0768,
  and 481.0769 to read as follows:
         Sec. 481.07655.  LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.  (a)  A prescriber
  or dispenser is not liable in a civil action for damages arising
  from the failure to access prescription drug information as
  required or authorized by Section 481.0764 or failure to submit the
  information to the board as required under Section 481.074(q) or
  481.075, unless the failure constitutes gross negligence or wilful
  misconduct and the prescriber or dispenser would be liable to the
  claimant under other law.
         (b)  This section does not establish a standard of care.
         Sec. 481.0767.  ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a)  The board shall
  establish an advisory committee to make recommendations regarding
  information submitted to the board and access to that information
  under Sections 481.074, 481.075, 481.076, and 481.0761.
         (b)  The board shall appoint the following members to the
  advisory committee:
               (1)  a physician licensed in this state who practices
  in pain management;
               (2)  a physician licensed in this state who practices
  in family medicine;
               (3)  a physician licensed in this state who performs
  surgery;
               (4)  a physician licensed in this state who practices
  in emergency medicine;
               (5)  a dentist licensed in this state who performs oral
  surgery;
               (6)  a podiatrist licensed in this state;
               (7)  a physician assistant to whom a physician has
  delegated the authority to prescribe or order a drug;
               (8)  an advanced practice registered nurse to whom a
  physician has delegated the authority to prescribe or order a drug;
               (9)  a pharmacist working at a chain pharmacy;
               (10)  a pharmacist working at an independent pharmacy;
               (11)  a veterinarian; and
               (12)  an electronic records consultant.
         (c)  Members of the advisory committee serve three-year
  terms. Each member shall serve until the member's replacement has
  been appointed.
         (d)  The advisory committee shall annually elect a presiding
  officer from its members.
         (e)  The advisory committee shall meet at least two times a
  year and at the call of the presiding officer or the board.
         (f)  A member of the advisory committee serves without
  compensation but may be reimbursed by the board for actual expenses
  incurred in performing the duties of the advisory committee.
         (g)  The advisory committee is abolished and this section
  expires on September 1, 2023.
         Sec. 481.0768.  CRIMINAL OFFENSE: DISCLOSURE OR USE OF
  INFORMATION. (a)  A person authorized to receive information under
  Section 481.076(a) commits an offense if the person discloses or
  uses the information in a manner not authorized by this subchapter
  or other law.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
         Sec. 481.0769.  ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY:  DISCLOSURE OR USE
  OF INFORMATION.  (a)  A regulatory agency that issues a license,
  certification, or registration to a prescriber or dispenser shall
  periodically update the administrative penalties, or any
  applicable disciplinary guidelines concerning the penalties,
  assessed by that agency for conduct constituting an offense under
  Section 481.0768(a).
         (b)  The agency shall set the penalties in an amount
  sufficient to deter the conduct.
         SECTION 3.  Section 554.051, Occupations Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a-1) and adding Subsection (a-2) to read as
  follows:
         (a-1)  The board may adopt rules to administer Sections
  481.073, 481.074, 481.075, 481.076, 481.0761, 481.0762, 481.0763,
  481.0764, 481.0765, 481.07655, [and] 481.0766, 481.0768, and
  481.0769, Health and Safety Code.
         (a-2)  The board may adopt rules to administer Section
  481.0767, Health and Safety Code.  This subsection expires
  September 1, 2023.
         SECTION 4.  Section 565.003, Occupations Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 565.003.  ADDITIONAL GROUNDS FOR DISCIPLINE REGARDING
  APPLICANT FOR OR HOLDER OF NONRESIDENT PHARMACY LICENSE. Unless
  compliance would violate the pharmacy or drug statutes or rules in
  the state in which the pharmacy is located, the board may discipline
  an applicant for or the holder of a nonresident pharmacy license if
  the board finds that the applicant or license holder has failed to
  comply with:
               (1)  Section 481.073, 481.074, [or] 481.075, 481.076,
  481.0761, 481.0762, 481.0763, 481.0764, 481.0765, 481.07655,
  481.0766, 481.0768, or 481.0769, Health and Safety Code;
               (2)  Texas substitution requirements regarding:
                     (A)  the practitioner's directions concerning
  generic substitution;
                     (B)  the patient's right to refuse generic
  substitution; or
                     (C)  notification to the patient of the patient's
  right to refuse substitution;
               (3)  any board rule relating to providing drug
  information to the patient or the patient's agent in written form or
  by telephone; or
               (4)  any board rule adopted under Section 554.051(a)
  and determined by the board to be applicable under Section
  554.051(b).
         SECTION 5.  Not later than September 1, 2020, each
  regulatory agency that issues a license, certification, or
  registration to a prescriber or dispenser shall evaluate and update
  any administrative penalties and guidelines as provided by Section
  481.0769, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 6.  Notwithstanding Section 24, Chapter 485 (H.B.
  2561), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, Section
  481.0764(a), Health and Safety Code, as added by that Act, applies
  only to:
               (1)  a prescriber, other than a veterinarian, who
  issues a prescription for a controlled substance on or after March
  1, 2020; or
               (2)  a person authorized by law to dispense a
  controlled substance, other than a veterinarian, who dispenses a
  controlled substance on or after March 1, 2020.
         SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
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