HB393 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Elaine Beech

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Controlled Substances Prescription Database, access by certain employees of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency authorized, disclosure of certain data for certain educational and research activities, Secs. 20-2-91, 20-2-214, 20-2-215 am'd.

Summary

HB393 would expand who can inspect and access Alabama's Controlled Substances Prescription Database and allow its data to be used for education and research, while adding a constitutional rule about local expenditures.

What This Bill Does

It adds Intelligence Analysts of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to the authorized inspectors of prescriptions, orders, records, and stocks of scheduled substances (replacing references to Department of Public Safety). It also permits the release of prescription data from the CSDB for bona fide educational and research activities, with protections to prevent releasing information that could identify individuals. The act defines who may access CSDB data (including boards, licensed prescribers and their staff, pharmacists, law enforcement with probable cause, department staff, and Medicaid) and notes that access for prescribers is not mandatory but may be required by regulations; it also includes a constitutional amendment about local government expenditure requirements.

Who It Affects

• Intelligence Analysts of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) — gain authority to inspect prescriptions, orders, records, and stocks of scheduled substances as part of enforcement
• Licensed health care providers and their staff (doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, certified registered nurse practitioners, licensed assistants to physicians, and pharmacists) — have limited, role-based access to CSDB information related to patients or prescribing activities, with boards able to set additional requirements

Key Provisions

• Adds ALEA Intelligence Analysts to the list of authorized inspectors of prescriptions, orders, records, and stocks of Schedule I-V substances
• Permits release of CSDB prescription data for bona fide educational and research purposes, while prohibiting release of data that directly identifies individuals
• Expands CSDB access for various groups (boards, licensed prescribers and staff, physician-designated employees, PAs, NPs, CNMs with QACSC, pharmacists, law enforcement with probable cause, department staff, other states' PDMPs, and Medicaid) with specific limitations and optional regulatory requirements
• Clarifies that prescribers are not required to access the CSDB prior to prescribing, dispensing, or administering medications, though boards may impose such requirements
• Maintains confidentiality of CSDB data as privileged and not public record, with limited use for statistical, investigatory, or regulatory purposes; ordinary pharmacy and medical records remain subject to normal discovery
• Includes Amendment 621 (Section 111.05) to require a 2/3 vote for certain local expenditure changes, unless exceptions apply or local approvals/adequate funding are provided
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval

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