BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1136
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 1136 (Levine)
As Amended April 15, 2013
Majority vote
HEALTH 11-1 BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS
12-0
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|Ayes:|Logue, Atkins, Bonilla, |Ayes:|Gordon, Bocanegra, |
| |Bonta, Gomez, | |Campos, Dickinson, |
| |Maienschein, Mansoor, | |Eggman, Hagman, Holden, |
| |Mitchell, Nestande, | |Maienschein, Mullin, |
| |Wieckowski, Wilk | |Skinner, Ting, Wilk |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Ammiano | | |
| | | | |
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APPROPRIATIONS 14-1
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|Ayes:|Gatto, Harkey, Bigelow, |
| |Bocanegra, Bradford, Ian |
| |Calderon, Campos, Eggman, |
| |Gomez, Hall, Linder, |
| |Quirk, Wagner, Weber |
| | |
|-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Donnelly |
| | |
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SUMMARY : Requires a pharmacist, on and after January 1, 2014,
if a pharmacist exercising his or her professional judgment
determines that a drug may impair a person's ability to operate
a vehicle or vessel, to include a written label on the drug
container indicating that the drug may impair a person's ability
to operate a vehicle or vessel. Permits the label to be printed
on an auxiliary label that is affixed to the prescription
container. Makes other technical and clarifying changes.
EXISTING LAW :
AB 1136
Page 2
1)Provides for the practice of pharmacy and the licensing and
regulation of pharmacies and pharmacists by the Board of
Pharmacy (Board) within the Department of Consumer Affairs.
2)Specifies certain requirements regarding the dispensing and
furnishing of dangerous drugs and devices, and prohibits a
person from furnishing any dangerous drug or device except as
prescribed by a physician, dentist, podiatrist, optometrist,
or veterinarian.
3)Requires that each prescription dispensed by a pharmacist must
be in a container meeting state and federal specifications and
correctly labeled, as specified, including:
a) Unless otherwise ordered by the prescriber, the
manufacturer's trade name of the drug or the generic name
and the name of the manufacturer, as specified;
b) The directions for the use of the drug;
c) The name of the patient or patients;
d) The name of the prescriber, as specified;
e) The date of issue;
f) The name and address of the pharmacy, and prescription
number or other means of identifying the prescription;
g) The strength of the drug or drugs dispensed;
h) The quantity of the drug or drugs dispensed;
i) The expiration date of the effectiveness of the drug
dispensed;
j) The condition or purpose for which the drug was
prescribed if the condition or purpose is indicated on the
prescription; and,
aa) The physical description of the dispensed medication,
including its color, shape, and any identification code
that appears on the tablets or capsules.
AB 1136
Page 3
4)Requires a pharmacist to inform a patient orally or in writing
of the harmful effects of a drug dispensed by prescription if
the drug poses substantial risk to the person consuming the
drug when taken in combination with alcohol or if the drug may
impair a person's ability to drive a motor vehicle, whichever
is applicable, and provided the drug is determined by the
Board, as specified, to be a drug or drug type for which this
warning shall be given. Allows the Board by regulation, to
require additional information or labeling. Exempts from
these provisions drugs furnished to patients in conjunction
with treatment or emergency services provided in health
facilities, as specified.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS : According to the author, inclusion of an additional
label on prescription drug containers will further aid seniors
who consume a disproportionate amount of prescription
medication. In addition, a recent study by the National
Institutes of Health found that "there is a communication gap
between seniors and their physicians around prescription
medications. Meeting these challenges will require that more
attention be devoted to medication management during all
clinical encounters." A label requirement, as required by this
bill, is one of several steps that can be taken to increase
communication and medication management.
Analysis Prepared by : Rosielyn Pulmano / HEALTH / (916)
319-2097
FN: 0000416