2022 -- H 7235

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LC003396

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACIES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Casimiro, Noret, Alzate, Vella-Wilkinson, McEntee,
Solomon, Amore, Baginski, Craven, and Kazarian

     Date Introduced: January 28, 2022

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 5-19.1-11, 5-19.1-15, 5-19.1-16 and 5-19.1-20 of the General Laws

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in Chapter 5-19.1 entitled "Pharmacies" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     5-19.1-11. Nonresident pharmacy -- Fees -- Display -- Declaration of ownership and

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location.

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     (a) Any pharmacy located outside this state that ships, mails, or delivers, in any manner,

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legend drugs, controlled substances, or devices into this state is a nonresident pharmacy and shall

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be licensed by the department. The nonresident pharmacy shall maintain at all times a valid

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unexpired license, permit, or registration to operate the pharmacy in compliance with the laws of

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the state in which it is located. Any pharmacy subject to this section shall comply with the board

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of pharmacy regulations of this state when dispensing legend drugs or devices to residents of this

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state.

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     (b) A pharmacy license will be issued to the owner who meets the requirements established

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pursuant to this chapter or regulations. The owner of each pharmacy shall pay an original license

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fee to be determined by the director, of not less than six hundred twenty-five dollars ($625), and

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annually thereafter, on or before a date to be determined by the director, for which he or she shall

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receive a license of location that shall entitle the owner to operate the pharmacy at the specified

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location, or any other temporary location as the director may approve, for the period ending on a

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date to be determined by the director. Each owner shall, at the time of filing, provide proof of

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payment of the fee and each owner shall file with the department, on a provided form, a declaration

 

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of ownership and location. The declaration of ownership and location so filed shall be deemed

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presumptive evidence of ownership of the pharmacy mentioned in the form. A license shall be

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issued to the owner and premise listed on the form and shall not be transferred. A license issued

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pursuant to this section shall be the property of the state and loaned to the licensee and it shall be

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kept posted in a conspicuous place on the licensed premises. If a change in owner or premise listed

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in the form occurs, the license shall become null and void.

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     (c) It shall be the duty of the owner to immediately notify the department of any proposed

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change of location or ownership.

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     (d) In the event the license fee remains unpaid on the date due, no renewal or new license

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shall be issued except upon payment of the license renewal fee.

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     5-19.1-15. Pharmacy interns -- License -- Fees -- Renewals.

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     (a) Any person who is a graduate of an accredited program of pharmacy, or who is a student

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enrolled in at least the third year of a professional program of an accredited program of pharmacy,

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or any graduate of a foreign college of pharmacy who has obtained FPGEC certification may file

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an application for licensure as a pharmacy intern with the department. He or she shall be required

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to furnish any information that the board may, by regulation, prescribe and, simultaneously with

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the filling of the application, shall pay to the department a fee to be determined by the department.

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All licenses issued to pharmacy interns shall be valid for a period to be determined by the

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department, however, pharmacy intern licenses shall be issued for a period of not less than five (5)

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years, but in no instance shall the license be valid if the individual is no longer making timely

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progress toward graduation. No pharmacy student may serve an internship with a preceptor without

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holding a valid pharmacy intern license from the board of pharmacy.

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     (b) To ensure adequate practical instruction, pharmacy internship experience as required

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under this chapter shall be obtained after licensure as a pharmacy intern by practice in any licensed

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pharmacy or other program meeting the requirements promulgated by regulation of the board, and

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shall include any instruction in the practice of pharmacy that the board by regulation shall prescribe.

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     (c) Licensed pharmacy interns shall practice only under the immediate supervision of a

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licensed pharmacist.

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     5-19.1-16. Pharmacy technicians -- License -- Fees -- Renewals.

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     A pharmacy technician license shall be issued to any individual who meets the

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requirements established under this chapter or by regulations. The pharmacy technician shall file

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an application for licensure with the department and shall be required to furnish any information

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that the board may, by regulation, prescribe and, simultaneously with the filing of the application,

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shall pay a fee to the department to be determined by the department. All licenses issued to

 

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pharmacy technicians shall be valid for a period to be determined by the department, however,

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pharmacy technician licenses shall be issued for a period of not less than two (2) years. No

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individual may serve as a pharmacy technician without holding a valid pharmacy technician license

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from the board of pharmacy.

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     5-19.1-20. License -- Renewal -- Fee display.

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     Every licensed pharmacist who desires to practice pharmacy shall secure from the

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department a license pursuant to the provisions of ยงยง 5-19.1-8 and 5-19.1-14, the fee for which

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shall be determined by the director. The renewal fee shall also be determined in regulation by the

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director and shall not be more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) biennially. Each licensing

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period shall coincide with the continuing education requirement period, with the licensing period

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starting on January 1 and ending on December 31 of each calendar year. The date of renewal may

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be established by the director by regulation, and the department may by regulation extend the

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duration of a licensing period. The current license shall be conspicuously displayed to the public in

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the pharmacy to which it applies.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACIES

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     This act would provide that the renewal fee for a pharmacist license would not be more

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than two hundred fifty dollars ($250), renewed biennially. This act would also provide that the

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nonresident pharmacy fee to obtain a license of location to operate a pharmacy would not be less

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than six hundred twenty-five dollars ($625). This act would also provide that licenses issued to

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pharmacy technicians would be valid for a period of not less than two (2) years. This act would

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also provide that licenses issued to pharmacy interns would be valid for a period of not less than

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five (5) years. This act would also align the licensing renewal period with the continuing education

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requirement period.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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