A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT authorizing the north carolina board of pharmacy to raise its licensure and registration fees and establish certain new fees and making certain changes to the conditions of license renewal under the pharmacy practice act.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.1.  It is the goal of the General Assembly that the Board of Pharmacy will use the funds generated by this act to enable it to conduct investigations and inspections under this Article.  The Board of Pharmacy shall annually expend at least one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) of the funds generated by this act for a Pharmacy Recovery Network.
SECTION 1.2.  G.S. 90‑85.12(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Upon receiving information concerning a violation of this Article that is a threat to the public safety, health, or welfare, the Executive Director shall promptly conduct an investigation, and if he finds evidence of the violation, he may file a complaint and prosecute the offender in a Board hearing. If the Executive Director receives information concerning a violation of this Article that does not pose a threat to the public safety, health, or welfare, the Executive Director may conduct an investigation, and if he finds evidence of the violation, he may file a complaint and prosecute the offender in a Board hearing."
SECTION 2.  Effective October 1, 2005, G.S. 90‑85.24 reads as rewritten:
"§ 90‑85.24.  Fees collectible by Board.
(a)	The Board of Pharmacy shall be entitled to charge and collect not more than the following fees: 
(1)	For the examination of an applicant for license as a pharmacist, two hundred dollars ($200.00), plus the cost of the test material;
(2)	For renewing the license as a pharmacist, one hundred thirty‑five dollars ($135.00);
(3)	 For reinstatement of a license as a pharmacist, one hundred thirty‑five dollars ($135.00);
(4)	For annual registration of a pharmacy technician, thirty dollars ($30.00);
(5)	 For reinstatement of a registration of a pharmacy technician, thirty dollars ($30.00);
(6)	 For licenses without examination as provided in G.S. 90‑85.20, original, six hundred dollars ($600.00);
(7)	 For original registration of a pharmacy, five hundred dollars ($500.00), and renewal thereof, two hundred dollars ($200.00);
(8)	For reinstatement of the registration of a pharmacy, two hundred dollars ($200.00);
(9)	For annual registration as a dispensing physician under G.S. 90‑85.21(b), seventy‑five dollars ($75.00);
(10)	For reinstatement of registration as a dispensing physician, seventy‑five dollars ($75.00);
(11)	 For annual registration as a dispensing physician assistant under G.S. 90‑18.1, seventy‑five dollars ($75.00);
(12)	For reinstatement of registration as a dispensing physician assistant, seventy‑five dollars ($75.00);
(13)	For annual registration as a dispensing nurse practitioner under G.S. 90‑18.2, seventy‑five dollars ($75.00);
(14)	For reinstatement of registration as a dispensing nurse practitioner, seventy‑five dollars ($75.00);
(15)	For registration of any change in pharmacist personnel as required under G.S. 90‑85.21(a), thirty‑five dollars ($35.00);
(16)	For a duplicate of any license, permit, or registration issued by the Board, twenty‑five dollars ($25.00);
(17)	For original registration to dispense devices, deliver medical equipment, or both, five hundred dollars ($500.00);
(18)	For renewal of registration to dispense devices, deliver medical equipment, or both, two hundred dollars ($200.00);
(19)	For reinstatement of a registration to dispense devices, deliver medical equipment, or both, two hundred dollars ($200.00).
(b)	All fees under this section shall be paid before any applicant may be admitted to examination or the applicant's name may be placed upon the register of pharmacists or before any license or permit, or any renewal or reinstatement thereof, may be issued by the Board."
SECTION 3.  Effective October 1, 2005, G.S. 90‑85.21A(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	The Board shall be entitled to charge and collect not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for original registration of a pharmacy under this section, and for renewal thereof, not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00), and for reinstatement thereof, not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00)."
SECTION 4.  Effective January 1, 2008, G.S. 90‑85.17 reads as rewritten:
"§ 90‑85.17.  License renewal.
In accordance with Board regulations, each license to practice pharmacy shall expire on December 31 and shall be renewed annually by filing with the Board on or after December 1 an application for license renewal furnished by the Board, accompanied by the required fee. It shall be unlawful to practice pharmacy more than 60 days after the expiration date without renewing the license. All licensees shall give the Board notice of a change of mailing address or a change of place of employment within 30 days after the change. The Board may require licensees to obtain up to 30 hours of continuing education every two years from Board‑approved providers as a condition of license renewal, with a minimum of 10 hours required per year."
SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law.