BILL NUMBER: AB 2348	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Mitchell
   (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Chesbro)

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2012

   An act to amend Section 2725.1 of the Business and Professions
Code, relating to healing arts.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2348, as introduced, Mitchell. Registered nurses: dispensation
of drugs.
   Existing law, the Nursing Practice Act, authorizes a registered
nurse to dispense drugs or devices upon an order by a licensed
physician and surgeon if the nurse is functioning within a specified
clinic.
   This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to these provisions.

   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 2725.1 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
   2725.1.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a registered
nurse may dispense drugs or devices upon an order by a licensed
physician and surgeon if the nurse is functioning within a licensed
 primary care  clinic as defined in paragraphs (1) and (2)
of subdivision (a) of Section 1204 of, or within a clinic as defined
in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 1206, of the Health and Safety
Code.
   No clinic shall employ a registered nurse to perform dispensing
duties exclusively. No registered nurse shall dispense drugs in a
pharmacy, keep a pharmacy, open shop, or drugstore for the retailing
of drugs or poisons. No registered nurse shall compound drugs.
Dispensing of drugs by a registered nurse, except a certified
nurse-midwife who functions pursuant to a standardized procedure or
protocol described in Section 2746.51 or a nurse practitioner who
functions pursuant to a standardized procedure described in Section
2836.1, or protocol, shall not include substances included in the
California Uniform Controlled Substances Act (Division 10 (commencing
with Section 11000) of the Health and Safety Code). Nothing in this
section shall exempt a clinic from the provisions of Article 13
(commencing with Section 4180) of Chapter 9.