Pharmacies: regulation.

Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, creates the California State Board of Pharmacy and makes it responsible for administering and enforcing the provisions of that law, including the licensure of pharmacies, as defined, and nonresident pharmacies that ship, mail, or deliver controlled substances or dangerous drugs or devices, as defined, into this state. A knowing violation of the Pharmacy Law is a crime. Existing law requires that each pharmacy establish procedures for addressing the theft, diversion, or self-use of dangerous drugs by a licensed individual employed by or with the pharmacy, and that every pharmacy report to the board within 30 days of the receipt or development of certain information affecting the ability of those individuals to practice the profession or occupation authorized by their license, as specified. Existing law requires an entity licensed by the board to retain records of the acquisition and disposition of dangerous drugs and devices in a specified manner. Existing federal law requires registrants distributing specified controlled substances to conduct an inventory of controlled substances every 2 years. This bill would instead require a pharmacy to report and provide to the board, within 14 days of the receipt or development thereof, the information described above regarding the ability of licensed individuals employed by or with the pharmacy to practice the profession or occupation authorized by their license. The bill would require the report to include specified detailed information, including the date of the last controlled substances inventory, and would require the pharmacy to prepare and submit an audit relating to the report upon the request of the board. The bill would also require an entity licensed by the board to provide records to designated persons within 3 business days of the time of the request, unless that timeframe is extended by the board, as specified. The bill would prohibit a pharmacist whose license was revoked by the board to perform pharmacy duties, as specified, for a nonresident pharmacy. Because this bill would specify additional requirements under the Pharmacy Law, a violation of which is a crime, it would impose a state-mandated local program by creating additional crimes. 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.