85R8371 EES-F
 
  By: Burkett H.B. No. 2389
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the supervision of pharmacist-interns, pharmacy
  technicians, and pharmacy technician trainees by a pharmacist and
  the adoption of rules by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 551.003, Occupations Code, is amended by
  adding Subdivision (15-a) to read as follows:
               (15-a) "Direct supervision" means supervision by a
  pharmacist who directs the activities of a pharmacist-intern,
  pharmacy technician, or pharmacy technician trainee to a sufficient
  degree to ensure the activities are performed accurately, safely,
  and without risk of harm to patients, as specified by board rule. 
         SECTION 2.  Section 554.053(a), Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The board shall establish rules for the use and the
  duties of a pharmacy technician and pharmacy technician trainee
  employed by [in] a pharmacy licensed by the board. A pharmacy
  technician and pharmacy technician trainee shall be responsible to
  and must be directly supervised by a pharmacist.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 554, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 554.058 to read as follows:
         Sec. 554.058.  RULES PROHIBITING REMOTE ACCESS. The board
  may not adopt rules prohibiting a pharmacist, a pharmacist-intern,
  or a pharmacy technician employed by a pharmacy from accessing the
  pharmacy's database from a remote location to perform certain
  prescription processing functions, provided the pharmacy
  establishes controls to protect the privacy and security of
  confidential information. 
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.