CSSB 158(L&C) AM - PHARMACISTS AND PHARMACIES Number 1198 CO-CHAIR BUNDE announced the next order of business to come before the House HESS Committee was CSSB 158(L&C) am. He asked Dave Knight, staff to Senator Mike Miller to present the bill. DAVE KNIGHT, Researcher for Senator Mike Miller, read the following sponsor statement: "The passage of this legislation is necessary to keep the practice of pharmacy in Alaska in step with national standards and to afford the public the safety and protection it deserves. "Current statutes are antiquated and obsolete. For example, investigative personnel within the Division of Occupational Licensing have continually experienced difficulty in investigating and processing complaints against licensed personnel and facilities because of vague, inadequate or nonexistent language regarding unprofessional conduct and disciplinary sanctions. Many of the statutes are dated from the l970s and do not reflect the current practice of pharmacy or changing nature of the profession. "Using the Model State Pharmacy Act of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy as a template, this legislation reflects over four years of work by the pharmacy community and is supported by the Alaska Pharmaceutical Association and the Alaska Board of Pharmacy." MR. KNIGHT noted that Chris Corsey, member of the State Pharmacy Association and Barbara Gabier from the Division of Occupational Licensing were available to answer any questions. REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG asked if there was a companion bill in the House? MR. KNIGHT responded no. Number 1290 CHRIS CORSEY, President, Alaska Board of Pharmacy, said he was also representing the Alaska Pharmaceutical Association and was one of the original authors of the Model State Pharmacy Act. He echoed Mr. Knight's comments in that the existing statutes and regulations that govern the practice of pharmacy are antiquated. For example, we require pharmacies to have reference texts which are no longer published, we do not have a definition of the practice of pharmacy in the Pharmacy Practice Act, we do not have a definition of unprofessional conduct and we don't address the use of pharmacy or recognize the use of pharmacy technicians which is an important trend in the development of pharmacy practice, especially with the effort to contain health care costs. The current statutes and regulations are a compilation of small pieces of legislation, mostly dating back to the (indisc.). He felt this legislation was good for the public and the pharmacists themselves want a higher standard and guideline by which to practice. This legislation would move the practice of pharmacy into the 1990s and he urged the committee to pass it. He noted the Division of Occupational Licensing has recommended some minor changes and as President of the Board of Pharmacy, he supports those changes. CO-CHAIR BUNDE asked if there was someone available to speak to the changes and pointed out the changes were reflected in the committee substitute before the committee. Number 1422 BARBARA GABIER, Program Coordinator, Division of Occupational Licensing, Department of Commerce & Economic Development, said the changes were minor concerns the division had with the existing wording and the committee substitute before the committee would clarify the wording. The division fully supports this legislation. She commented she would be happy to go through each of the changes if the committee so desired. CO-CHAIR BUNDE asked if the changes were substantive in nature? MS. GABIER responded no. REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG inquired if this legislation had another committee referral. CO-CHAIR BUNDE responded it does not have another committee referral. Number 1495 REPRESENTATIVE ROKEBERG moved to adopt HCS CSSB 158, Version 9- LS0525\R, Lauterbach, dated 4/9/96. Hearing no objection, the House Committee Substitute was adopted. Number 1515 REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON made a motion to pass HCS CSSB 158(HES) with individual recommendations. Hearing no objection, it was so ordered. CO-CHAIR BUNDE called an at-ease at 3:31 p.m. The meeting was called back to order at 3:40 p.m.