HB247 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ron Johnson

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Controlled substances, prescription drug monitoring program, meetings of Controlled Substances Prescription Database Advisory Committee, members authorized to meet electronically and by proxy, out-of-state access to prescription drug monitoring database authorized, State Board of Health authorized to use fees for database operations, Secs. 20-2-212, 20-2-214, 20-2-217 am'd.; Act 2009-489, 2009 Reg. Sess. am'd.

Summary

HB247 creates a state controlled substances prescription database program with a new advisory committee, funding mechanism, and expanded data access rules, including proxy participation and out-of-state access.

What This Bill Does

It establishes the Controlled Substances Prescription Database Advisory Committee with specified members and allows electronic attendance and proxies, plus an annual diversity report. It creates the Alabama State Controlled Substance Database Trust Fund to pay for database activities, funded by a $10 annual surcharge on practitioner certificates and other approved funds, with funds usable only for database administration and possible yearly refunds to boards if funds exceed costs (min $5,000 per board). It expands who can access the database data (certifying boards, licensed clinicians, assistants, pharmacists, law enforcement, department staff, and certain out-of-state PDMPs) under defined limits. It authorizes the department to operate and regulate the database, may contract with the Board of Pharmacy for operations, and allows out-of-state PDMPs recognized by national bodies to access Alabama data under Board of Health rules.

Who It Affects

• Licensed health professionals (physicians, physician assistants, dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, veterinarians, pharmacists, and their patients) because their access to PDMP data is regulated, and they may be affected by the surcharge via the boards and proxy/participation rules.
• Certifying boards, professional associations, the State Health Officer and related state agencies, law enforcement, and out-of-state PDMP programs because they participate in funding, governance, data access rules, and cross-state data sharing.

Key Provisions

• Establishes a controlled substances prescription database program and creates a Controlled Substances Prescription Database Advisory Committee with diverse professional representation.
• Allows committee members to participate by electronic conferencing and permits proxies designated by member organizations; proxies can attend, participate, and vote, with separate designations for each meeting.
• Specifies data access by categories (certifying boards, licensed practitioners, licensed assistants, licensed pharmacists, law enforcement, department staff, and recognized out-of-state PDMPs) with defined restrictions and no mandatory PDMP checks for prescribing in some cases.
• Creates the Alabama State Controlled Substance Database Trust Fund to hold funds for the database, funded by grants, gifts, federal funds, and a $10 annual surcharge on applicable practitioner certificates, with all funds subject to legislative appropriation and budgeting rules.
• Directs that surcharge funds be used exclusively for database development, implementation, operation, and maintenance; requires annual cost determinations by the State Health Officer and provides for refunds to certifying boards if funds exceed costs by at least $25,000 (minimum $5,000 per board).
• Authorizes the department to contract with the Board of Pharmacy for specific operational functions and to access out-of-state PDMP data under procedures approved by the State Board of Health.
• Requires the advisory committee to annually report to the Legislature on compliance with diversity provisions, and establishes effective date conditions for the Act.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Controlled Substances