SB389 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Tom Butler

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Corrections Department, prescription medication, unused, redispensing authorized under certain conditions

Summary

This bill lets the Alabama Department of Corrections collect unused prescription meds from facilities and redistribute them under strict safety rules.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes ADOC or its contracted pharmacies to accept returned prescription drugs from corrections facilities if safety conditions are met. It requires written protocols for accepting, returning to stock, repackaging, labeling, and redispensing, plus a uniform system to track drugs. It sets rules for when and how drugs can be returned to stock and reissued, including packaging requirements and certain exclusions. The act takes effect immediately after the governor signs it into law.

Who It Affects

• Alabama Department of Corrections and its contracted pharmacies: can implement the program to accept, repackage, label, and redistribute unused medications.
• Correction facility staff (registered professional nurses or licensed practical nurses) and pharmacists: must ensure safety and proper handling, follow on-site protocols, and verify conditions before redistributing drugs.
• Inmates/patients in correctional facilities: may receive redistributed medications under the new system.

Key Provisions

• Authorization for ADOC or contracted pharmacies to accept and redispense unused prescription drugs from correctional facilities.
• Definitions of terms: corrections facility, customized patient medication package, repackaging, unit-dose package, and unit-of-issue package.
• Conditions for accepting returned drugs: facility must meet inspections, drugs must have been stored/handled to prevent damage or contamination, the drug must still be under the control of facility staff, and labeling must be accurate and intact.
• Written protocols requirement: pharmacies must have on-site protocols for accepting, returning to stock, repackaging, labeling, and redispensing; protocols must be accessible to pharmacists on duty and include methods to prevent damage and a system for recording/tracking.
• Redistribution rules: drugs in the original or unchanged packaging may be returned to stock and redispensed; repackaged drugs may be returned to stock but cannot be repackaged again; unit-dose or unit-of-issue packages returned must be redispensed in the same packaging and only once; no adding drugs to partially used unit-of-issue packages.
• Exclusions: the act does not apply to controlled substances, customized patient medication packages, drugs not dispensed in unit-dose or unit-of-issue packaging, or drugs not properly labeled with identity, strength, lot number, and expiration date.
• Effective date: the act becomes effective immediately following the governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Corrections Department