BILL NUMBER: AB 141	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Knox

                        JANUARY 11, 1999

   An act to add and repeal Section 4013 of the Business and
Professions Code, relating to pharmacies, and making an appropriation
therefor.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 141, as introduced, Knox.  Pharmacies.
   Existing law provides for the California State Board of Pharmacy
to regulate and enforce laws regarding the practice of pharmacy, as
specified. Existing law also provides for the continuous
appropriation of moneys in the Pharmacy Board Contingent Fund for the
purposes of the board.
   This bill would require the board to conduct a study regarding the
incidence of medication errors in pharmacies, as specified, and to
report these findings to the Legislature on or before December 1,
2002.   The bill would make an appropriation by expanding the
purposes for the expenditure of funds from the Pharmacy Board
Contingent Fund, and provides for the repeal of these provisions as
of January 1, 2003, unless a later enacted statute deletes or extends
that date.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  yes.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  no.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 4013 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
   4013.  (a) The board shall conduct a study of the incidence of
medication errors in pharmacies in California.  The study shall
employ a methodology that uses "test" prescriptions distributed to a
statistically significant cross section of pharmacies in the state.
In designing the study, the board shall confer with the scientific
and academic community to ensure that the study is based on sound
scientific and analytic principles.
   The board shall issue a report of its findings from the study to
the Legislature on or before December 1, 2002.
   (b) The purpose of the study described in subdivision (a) is to
measure the frequency and describe the type of medication errors
occurring in California pharmacies and to improve patient safety, and
identify broader issues that may become the basis for instituting
profession-wide standards and changes.
   (c) The board shall have the authority to contract with outside
entities to collect and analyze data necessary for the study.
   (d) "Test" prescription, as used in this section, refers to a
prescription that is prepared solely for the purposes set out in this
section and issued only according to standards established for the
study conducted pursuant to this section, and not for the actual
medical needs of a patient. All prescription containers, including
all drugs, obtained through such a prescription shall be forwarded to
the board, or its designee immediately after examination for
purposes of the study conducted pursuant to this section and shall
thereafter remain under the board's custody and in its possession
until destroyed.
   (e) This section shall cease to be operative on January 1, 2003,
and on that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute that is
enacted on or before that date deletes or extends that date.