GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

S	1 

SENATE BILL 1039

Short Title:  Pharmacy Study Commission.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senator Perdue.

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Referred to:  Rules and Operations of the Senate.

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April 21, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO CREATE A STUDY COMMISSION TO UPDATE THE PHARMACY PRACTICE ACT.
Whereas, the Pharmacy Practice Act has not been updated since 1983; and
Whereas, the health care industry has undergone tremendous change in the past 14 years; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is created a Study Commission on updating the Pharmacy Practice Act to be composed of nine members as follows:
(1)	Three Senators appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(2)	Three Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(3)	One member appointed by the North Carolina Medical Society.
(4)	One member appointed by the North Carolina Hospital Association.
(5)	One member appointed by the North Carolina Pharmacy Association. 
Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made.
Section 2.  The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate one Senator as cochair and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate one Representative as cochair.
Section 3.  The Commission shall:
(1)	Study whether a pharmacist should be allowed to monitor drug therapy under specific guidelines established by a physician.
(2)	Study designing a process for the electronic transmission of prescriptions between doctors and pharmacists.
(3)	Study establishing procedures for the distribution of prescriptions during an emergency or natural disaster.
Section 4.  The Commission shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before the first day of the 1998 Regular Session of the 1997 General Assembly by filing the report with the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  Upon filing its final report, the Commission shall terminate.
Section 5.  The Commission, while in the discharge of official duties, may exercise all the powers provided for under the provisions of G.S. 120-19, and G.S. 120-19.1 through G.S. 120-19.4.  The Commission may meet at any time upon the joint call of the cochairs.  The Commission may meet in the State Legislative Building or the Legislative Office Building.
Section 6. Members of the Commission shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowances in accordance with G.S. 120-3.1, 138-5, or 138-6, as appropriate.
Section 7. The Commission may contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services as provided by G.S. 120-32.02.  The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Administrative Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist in the work of the Commission. The House of Representatives' and the Senate's Supervisors of Clerks shall assign clerical staff to the commission or committee, upon the direction of the Legislative Services Commission.  The expenses relating to clerical employees shall be borne by the Commission.
Section 8. All State departments and agencies and local governments and their subdivisions shall furnish the Commission with any information in their possession or available to them.
Section 9. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the General Assembly the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year for the expenses of the Commission.
Section 10.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1997.