HB 34

Under existing law, a pharmacy technician is required to be registered with the State Board of Pharmacy before performing any pharmacy functions and is required to pay a registration fee

Thereafter, the registration is renewable by the board biannually in odd-numbered years upon payment of a renewal fee. If the pharmacy technician fails to renew the registration, the pharmacy technician is required to pay a penalty of not less than $10 nor more than $20 as set by the board for each lapsed year and is required to pay all lapsed fees, provided the lapsed time of reinstatement does not exceed five years without examination by the board

This bill would delete the five-year limit on the time for reinstatement of the registration of a pharmacy technician without examination by the board and would limit the total penalties and lapsed fees to a maximum of five years

Relating to the State Board of Pharmacy; to amend Section 34-23-131 of the Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the registration of pharmacy technicians; to delete the time limit for the reinstatement of the lapsed registration of a pharmacy technician without examination by the board and limit the penalties and late fees required to be paid to five years.

Section 1

Section 34-23-131 of the Code of Alabama 1975, is amended to read as follows:

§34-23-131.

(a) A pharmacy technician shall not perform pharmacy functions or be present in the prescription department of a pharmacy unless he or she is under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist. A pharmacy technician shall not perform pharmacy functions or be present in the prescription department of a pharmacy unless he or she is registered by the board.

(b) When supervision is required, a licensed pharmacist shall be jointly responsible and liable for the actions of a pharmacy technician.

(c) A pharmacy technician shall register and pay a fee as determined by the board before performing any pharmacy functions. The board shall develop rules and regulations relating to the registration of all pharmacy technicians. The registration of a pharmacy technician shall be renewable biennially in odd-numbered years upon payment of the required renewal fee. The registration of each pharmacy technician shall expire on December 31 of odd-numbered years. In order to continue to be licensed, each registered pharmacy technician shall pay a biennial renewal fee of not less than twenty dollars ($20), as determined by rule of the board, the fee being due on October 31 and delinquent after December 31 of odd-numbered years. The payment of the renewal fee shall entitle the pharmacy technician to renewal of his or her registration at the discretion of the board. If any pharmacy technician fails to pay the renewal fee as required by this subsection, he or she may be reinstated as a pharmacy technician only upon payment of a penalty of not less than ten dollars ($10) nor more than twenty dollars ($20), as determined by rule of the board, for each lapsed year and all lapsed fees for each lapsed year, provided the lapsed time of registration shall not exceed five years, in which case reinstatement may be had only upon satisfactory examination by the board up to a maximum of five years of total penalties and lapsed fees.

(d) In addition to any other registration requirements, a pharmacy technician shall complete three hours of continuing education annually, or six hours biennially, of which one hour per year shall be live presentation. The board may grant an extension to a pharmacy technician who fails to complete the required continuing education hours in the allotted time. A pharmacy technician who fails to complete the annual continuing education requirements shall be subject to disciplinary action by the board."

Section 2

This act shall become effective immediately following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.