Pharmaceutical waste.

The existing Medical Waste Management Act, administered by the State Department of Public Health, regulates the management and handling of medical waste, as defined. Existing law requires that all medical waste be hauled by either a registered hazardous waste hauler or by a person with an approved limited-quantity exemption granted pursuant to specified provisions of law. Violation of these provisions of law is a crime. This bill would define pharmaceutical waste for purposes of the Medical Waste Management Act, and would exempt a pharmaceutical waste generator or parent organization that employs health care professionals who generate pharmaceutical waste from specified medical waste hauling requirements if the generator, health care professional, or parent organization retains specified documentation and meets specified requirements and if the facility receiving the medical waste retains specified documentation and meets specified requirements. The bill would authorize pharmaceutical waste to be transported by the generator or health care professional who generated the pharmaceutical waste, a staff member of the generator or health care professional, or common carrier, as defined, pursuant to these provisions. By expanding the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.