BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
26 (Simitian)
Hearing Date: 05/28/2009 Amended: 4/15/2009
Consultant: Brendan McCarthy Policy Vote: BP&ED 8-1, EQ 7-0
SB 26 (Simitian)
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BILL SUMMARY: SB 26 defines home generated pharmaceutical waste
and exempts such waste from existing regulatory requirements for
the handling of medical waste. The bill authorizes pharmacies
and other facilities to collect home generated pharmaceutical
waste, under specified conditions.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 Fund
Board of Pharmacy $91 $160 $160 Special
*
coordination
Dept. of Public Health $189 $185 $185 General
oversight
* Pharmacy Board Contingent Fund
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STAFF COMMENTS: Suspense file.
Under current law, home generated pharmaceutical waste (i.e.
unused medication) is managed as medical waste, and therefore is
subject to strict requirements on the handling and disposal of
such waste. On the other hand, current law allows designated
facilities, such as hospitals and other healthcare facilities,
to accept "sharps" (hypodermic needles, lancets, etc.), without
the same handling regulations as medical waste.
SB 26 defines home generated pharmaceutical waste as prescribed
and over-the-counter drugs derived from a household. The bill
excludes home generated pharmaceutical waste from the current
definition of medical waste.
The bill requires the Board of Pharmacy to coordinate with other
state agencies, local governments, drug manufacturers, and
pharmacies to develop policies to manage home generated
pharmaceutical waste.
The bill authorizes pharmacies, health care facilities, clinics,
household hazardous waste programs, nursing homes, and
SB 26 (Simitian)
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government facilities to accept home generated pharmaceutical
waste from the public. The bill establishes requirements for the
management of home generated pharmaceutical waste, including
authorizing the Department of Public Health to approve locations
for the collection of home generated pharmaceutical waste. The
bill specifies criteria for the storage and transportation of
these wastes. The bill also requires the tracking of specified
wastes.
Additionally, the bill authorizes, but does not require, the
California Integrated Waste Management Board to make grants to
local governments for the management of home generated
pharmaceutical waste and sharps waste.
The bill excludes collection points for home generated
pharmaceutical waste from existing permit or fee requirements.