Sen. John Bell

Provides that compounding of drugs provided to the Department of Corrections for the purpose of carrying out an execution by lethal injection shall constitute the practice of pharmacy and be subject to the requirements of the Drug Control Act and the jurisdiction of the Board of Pharmacy. The bill provides that only outsourcing facilities may compound such drugs; currently, both pharmacies and outsourcing facilities may compound such drugs. The bill also clarifies that the Board of Pharmacy may inspect any pharmacy or other place where drugs, cosmetics, or devices are manufactured, stored, or dispensed in response to complaints received by the Board, in any case in which the Board has reason to believe that the pharmacy or other place where drugs, cosmetics, or devices are manufactured, stored, or dispensed has violated any state or federal law, or as otherwise deemed necessary by the Board to protect the health and safety of the public. The bill amends the membership of the Board of Health to include a pharmacist with experiencing in compounding, requires the Board of Health to educate the public about safe use of compounded drugs, and requires the Board of Health and the Board of Pharmacy to report annually to the Governor and the General Assembly on actions taken to (i) ensure the safety and quality of compounded drugs produced by compounding pharmacies and outsourcing facilities located in the Commonwealth and compounding pharmacies and outsourcing facilities located outside the Commonwealth that provide compounded drugs to patients in the Commonwealth; (ii) reduce illegal use of opioids and opioid abuse in the Commonwealth; and (iii) implement provisions of and ensure compliance with the requirements of Title II of the federal Drug Supply Chain Security Act of 2013 related to prescription drug identification, tracing, and verification.

Authorizes casino gaming in the Commonwealth to be regulated by the Virginia Lottery Board (the Board). The bill specifies the licensing requirements for casino gaming and imposes criminal and civil penalties for violations of the casino gaming law. Casino gaming shall be limited to (i) any city in which at least 40 percent of the land area is exempt from local real property taxation pursuant to federal law or specified sections of the Constitution of Virginia; (ii) any city that had a rate of unemployment at least four percentage points higher than the statewide average, a poverty rate of at least 20 percent, and a population decrease in the locality of at least 20 percent from the previous year, all computed as of November 2017; or (iii) any city that had a rate of unemployment at least four percentage points higher than the statewide average, a poverty rate of at least 22 percent, and a population decrease in the locality of at least 20 percent from the previous year, all computed as of November 2017, and located adjacent to a state that has adopted a Border Region Retail Tourism Development District Act. The bill imposes a tax of 10 percent on the adjusted gross receipts of licensees and provides for how the tax proceeds are disbursed. In addition, a referendum must be passed in the city on the question of allowing casino gaming in the city. The bill requires the Board to establish and implement a voluntary exclusion program allowing individuals to voluntarily list themselves as being barred from entering a casino gaming establishment or other facility under the jurisdiction of the Board. The bill also establishes the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund administered by the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to provide counseling and other support services for compulsive and problem gamblers, develop problem gambling treatment and prevention programs, and provide grants to support organizations that provide assistance to compulsive gamblers.