| Chapter 217 |
| 2023 -- S 0255 Enacted 06/21/2023 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACIES |
Introduced By: Senators DiMario, Lawson, Lauria, Ujifusa, Valverde, and Miller |
| Date Introduced: February 16, 2023 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Sections 5-19.1-11, 5-19.1-15, 5-19.1-16 and 5-19.1-20 of the General Laws |
| in Chapter 5-19.1 entitled "Pharmacies" are hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 5-19.1-11. Nonresident pharmacy — Fees — Display — Declaration of ownership and |
| location. |
| (a) Any pharmacy located outside this state that ships, mails, or delivers, in any manner, |
| legend drugs, controlled substances, or devices into this state is a nonresident pharmacy and shall |
| be licensed by the department. The nonresident pharmacy shall maintain at all times a valid |
| unexpired license, permit, or registration to operate the pharmacy in compliance with the laws of |
| the state in which it is located. Any pharmacy subject to this section shall comply with the board |
| of pharmacy regulations of this state when dispensing legend drugs or devices to residents of this |
| state. |
| (b) A pharmacy license will be issued to the owner who meets the requirements established |
| pursuant to this chapter or regulations. On and after December 1, 2024, for licenses issued or |
| renewed, the The owner of each pharmacy shall pay an original license fee to be determined by the |
| director, and annually thereafter, on or before a date to be determined by the director, of not less |
| than six hundred twenty-five dollars ($625), for which he or she the owner shall receive a license |
| of location that shall entitle the owner to operate the pharmacy at the specified location, or any |
| other temporary location as the director may approve, for the period ending on a date to be |
| determined by the director. Each owner shall, at the time of filing, provide proof of payment of the |
| fee and each owner shall file with the department, on a provided form, a declaration of ownership |
| and location. The declaration of ownership and location so filed shall be deemed presumptive |
| evidence of ownership of the pharmacy mentioned in the form. A license shall be issued to the |
| owner and premise listed on the form and shall not be transferred. A license issued pursuant to this |
| section shall be the property of the state and loaned to the licensee and it shall be kept posted in a |
| conspicuous place on the licensed premises. If a change in owner or premise listed in the form |
| occurs, the license shall become null and void. |
| (c) It shall be the duty of the owner to immediately notify the department of any proposed |
| change of location or ownership. |
| (d) In the event the license fee remains unpaid on the date due, no renewal or new license |
| shall be issued except upon payment of the license renewal fee. |
| 5-19.1-15. Pharmacy interns — License — Fees — Renewals. |
| (a) Any person who is a graduate of an accredited program of pharmacy, or who is a student |
| enrolled in at least the third year of a professional program of an accredited program of pharmacy, |
| or any graduate of a foreign college of pharmacy who has obtained FPGEC certification may file |
| an application for licensure as a pharmacy intern with the department. He or she The applicant |
| shall be required to furnish any information that the board may, by regulation, prescribe and, |
| simultaneously with the filling filing of the application, shall pay to the department a fee to be |
| determined by the department. All licenses issued to pharmacy interns shall be valid for a period to |
| be determined by the department, however, for all pharmacy intern licenses issued or renewed on |
| or after December 1, 2024, shall be issued for a period not less than five (5) years, but in no instance |
| shall the license be valid if the individual is no longer making timely progress toward graduation. |
| No pharmacy student may serve an internship with a preceptor without holding a valid pharmacy |
| intern license from the board of pharmacy. |
| (b) To ensure adequate practical instruction, pharmacy internship experience as required |
| under this chapter shall be obtained after licensure as a pharmacy intern by practice in any licensed |
| pharmacy or other program meeting the requirements promulgated by regulation of the board, and |
| shall include any instruction in the practice of pharmacy that the board by regulation shall prescribe. |
| (c) Licensed pharmacy interns shall practice only under the immediate supervision of a |
| licensed pharmacist. |
| 5-19.1-16. Pharmacy technicians — License — Fees — Renewals. |
| A pharmacy technician license shall be issued to any individual who meets the |
| requirements established under this chapter or by regulations. The pharmacy technician shall file |
| an application for licensure with the department and shall be required to furnish any information |
| that the board may, by regulation, prescribe and, simultaneously with the filing of the application, |
| shall pay a fee to the department to be determined by the department. All licenses issued to |
| pharmacy technicians shall be valid for a period to be determined by the department; however, for |
| all pharmacy technician licenses issued or renewed on or after December 1, 2024, shall be issued |
| for a period not less than two (2) years. No individual may serve as a pharmacy technician without |
| holding a valid pharmacy technician license from the board of pharmacy. |
| 5-19.1-20. License — Renewal — Fee display. |
| Every licensed pharmacist who desires to practice pharmacy shall secure from the |
| department a license pursuant to the provisions of §§ 5-19.1-8 and 5-19.1-14, the fee for which |
| shall be determined by the director. The renewal fee shall also be determined in regulation by the |
| director, and, the renewal fee for any licensing period commencing on or after December 1, 2024, |
| shall not be more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) biennially. Each licensing period shall |
| coincide with the continuing education requirement period, with the licensing period starting on |
| January 1 and ending on December 31 of each calendar year. The date of renewal may be |
| established by the director by regulation, and the department may by regulation extend the duration |
| of a licensing period. The current license shall be conspicuously displayed to the public in the |
| pharmacy to which it applies. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC001054 |
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