BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                            Senator Kevin de Le�n, Chair


          SB 205 (Corbett) - Prescription drugs: labeling.
          
          Amended: April 24, 2013         Policy Vote: B&P 6-0
          Urgency: No                     Mandate: Yes
          Hearing Date: May 13, 2013      Consultant: Brendan McCarthy
          
          This bill does not meet the criteria for referral to the  
          Suspense File.
          
          
          Bill Summary: SB 205 would require certain information on  
          prescription drug labels to be printed in at least 12-point  
          font.

          Fiscal Impact: One-time costs of about $75,000 to update  
          regulations and provide information to pharmacies by the Board  
          of Pharmacy (Pharmacy Board Contingent Fund).

          Background: Under current law and regulation, pharmacists are  
          required to follow certain standards when labeling prescription  
          medications. Information required to be on the label includes  
          the drug name, dosage, directions, the prescriber, the  
          dispensing pharmacy, and other information. Some information is  
          required to be printed in at least 10-point font, including the  
          drug name, directions for use, the patient's name, the dosage,  
          and the purpose of the drug.

          Proposed Law: SB 205 would require certain information on  
          prescription labels to be printed in at least 12-point font,  
          including the drug name, directions for use, the patient's name,  
          the dosage, and the purpose of the drug.

          Related Legislation: SB 204 (Corbett) would require pharmacists  
          to use translations of the directions for use developed by the  
          Board of Pharmacy when providing translated directions in  
          specified languages. For other languages, pharmacists would be  
          required to use certified translation services. That bill will  
          be heard in this committee.

          Staff Comments: The only mandated costs imposed on local  
          agencies from the bill relate to crimes and infractions, which  
          are not reimbursable under the California Constitution.








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