04/13/2010 09:46 AM House FIN

SENATE BILL NO. 247                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act extending the termination date of the Board of                                                                     
     Pharmacy; and providing for an effective date."                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
10:52:56 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JIM BENINTENDI,  STAFF, SENATOR OLSON, explained  that SB 247                                                                   
extends the Board  of Pharmacy until June, 2018.  He reported                                                                   
that  the original  version of  the bill  extended the  board                                                                   
through  June,   2015.  The  2018  extension  was   the  date                                                                   
recommended  by legislative  audit.  The change  was made  in                                                                   
the Senate  Labor and Commerce  Committee. He  furthered that                                                                   
the board is  composed of 7 members. The  accompanying fiscal                                                                   
note  (FN2 (CED)  accommodates  travel  for members  and  two                                                                   
staff for three meetings per year.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Benintendi noted  that the  legislative audit  expressed                                                                   
concern that  the department was not sufficiently  supportive                                                                   
of the  board and  that the Governor  place more  emphasis on                                                                   
board recruitment.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
PAT DAVIDSON,  LEGISLATIVE AUDIT,  reiterated that  the board                                                                   
needs  increased  administrative  support from  the  division                                                                   
and more timely  appointments to the board by  the Governor's                                                                   
office.  She  noted   that  the  board  had   an  issue  with                                                                   
collaborative  protocols.  She explained  that  collaborative                                                                   
protocols   are  agreements   between  a   physician  and   a                                                                   
pharmacist  that allow  a pharmacist  to  take on  activities                                                                   
not  usually allowed  by the  pharmacist, i.e.,  a flu  shot.                                                                   
The board  was allowing the  activity to continue  for longer                                                                   
than  stipulated  in  the  agreement.  The  board  agreed  to                                                                   
correct the  problem. She added  that the board is  running a                                                                   
surplus and suggested to reduce the board's fees.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
10:57:46 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stoltze asked  if the  department  is committed  to                                                                   
improving their support to professional boards.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
JENNIFER  STRICKLER,  DIVISION OPERATIONS  MANAGER,  DIVISION                                                                   
OF  CORPORATIONS,   BUSINESS,  AND  PROFESSIONAL   LICENSING,                                                                   
DEPARTMENT OF  COMMERCE, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT,                                                                   
stated   that  the   division   has  begun   to  make   major                                                                   
improvements to all of their licensing programs.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair   Stoltze  stressed   his   concern  for   continued                                                                   
sufficient  support for  the important  work of  professional                                                                   
boards.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Representative   Doogan  also   expressed  his  concern   for                                                                   
increased  support of  professional boards  by the  executive                                                                   
branch.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
10:59:00 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Representative Foster  asked what kind of  major improvements                                                                   
are being  made by  the department.  Ms. Strickler  explained                                                                   
that   the  division's   cost  accounting   system  for   all                                                                   
licensing  boards was controlled  by one  individual  who was                                                                   
not qualified.  That individual  left state government  and a                                                                   
qualified  employee   was  hired.  The  problems   are  being                                                                   
resolved and board support has increased.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
11:00:33 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
11:00:59 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stoltze closed public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair  Thomas MOVED  to report  CS SB  247 (L&G) out  of                                                                   
Committee   with    individual   recommendations    and   the                                                                   
accompanying fiscal note.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CS  SB 247(L&G)  was REPORTED  out  of Committee  with a  "do                                                                   
pass"  recommendation and  with  previously published  fiscal                                                                   
note: FN2 (DCED)                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
11:02:19 AM