BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Kevin de Le�n, Chair
AB 1535 (Bloom) - Pharmacists: Naloxone Hydrochloride.
Amended: June 24, 2014 Policy Vote: B&P 9-0
Urgency: No Mandate: No
Hearing Date: June 30, 2014
Consultant: Brendan McCarthy
This bill does not meet the criteria for referral to the
Suspense File.
Bill Summary: AB 1535 would allow a pharmacist to furnish
naloxone hydrochloride without a prescription pursuant to
standardized protocols developed by the Medical Board and the
Board of Pharmacy.
Fiscal Impact:
One-time costs less than $75,000 to develop protocols and
adopt regulations by the Medical Board (Contingent Fund of
the Medical Board of California).
One-time costs less than $75,000 to develop protocols and
adopt regulations by the Board of Pharmacy (Pharmacy Board
Contingent Fund).
Minor anticipated enforcement costs to the Board of
Pharmacy (Pharmacy Board Contingent Fund).
Background: Naloxone hydrochloride (brand name Narcan) is a drug
that can be used to reverse an opioid drug overdose, by
reversing the depression of the central nervous system caused by
opioid overdose. The drug can be administered intramuscularly,
similar to the use of EpiPens for allergic reactions.
Under current law, a licensed health care provider can prescribe
and dispense naloxone hydrochloride to a person at risk of an
opioid overdose or to a family member, friend, or other person
in a position to assist a person at risk of an opioid overdose.
Proposed Law: AB 1535 would allow a pharmacist to furnish
naloxone hydrochloride without a prescription pursuant to
standardized protocols developed by the Medical Board and the
AB 1535 (Bloom)
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Board of Pharmacy.
Specific provisions of the bill would:
Require the protocols to include educational consultation
for the person receiving the prescription;
Require the protocols to require notification of the
patient's primary care provider (with patient consent);
Prohibit the dispensing pharmacist from allowing the person
receiving the prescription to waive the consultation
required in the protocols;
Require participating pharmacists to receive continuing
education on the use of naloxone hydrochloride;
Authorize the Medical Board and the Board of Pharmacy to
adopt emergency regulations to implement the bill. (They
would still be required to subsequently adopt regular
regulations under the Administrative Procedure Act.)
Related Legislation:
SB 500 (Lieu) requires the Medical Board to update
prescriber standards for controlled substances every five
years. That bill is pending in the Assembly.
SB 1438 (Pavley) requires the Emergency Medical Services
Authority to develop regulations for the use of naloxone
hydrochloride by prehospital emergency care personnel. That
bill is pending in the Assembly.