S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1018
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 7, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BRONSON -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing under the
direction of the state board of pharmacy a drug repository program to
accept and dispense donated prescription drugs
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6833
to read as follows:
§ 6833. REPOSITORY PROGRAM; ACCEPT AND DISPENSE DONATED PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS. 1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION: A. "HOSPITAL" HAS THE SAME MEANING AS
IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED ONE OF THE PUBLIC
HEALTH LAW.
B. "NONPROFIT CLINIC" MEANS A CORPORATION AS DEFINED IN SUBPARAGRAPH
FIVE OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF SECTION ONE HUNDRED TWO OF THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT
CORPORATION LAW, OR ANY CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION NOT ORGANIZED AND NOT
OPERATED FOR PROFIT, THAT PROVIDES HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO INDIGENT AND
UNINSURED PERSONS. "NONPROFIT CLINIC" SHALL NOT INCLUDE A HOSPITAL OR A
FACILITY AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED
ONE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW.
C. "PRESCRIPTION DRUG" MEANS ANY DRUG TO WHICH THE FOLLOWING APPLIES:
(1) UNDER THE FOOD, DRUG, AND COSMETIC ACT, 52 STAT. 1040 (1938), 21
U.S.C.A. 301, AS AMENDED, THE DRUG IS REQUIRED TO BEAR A LABEL CONTAIN-
ING THE LEGEND, "CAUTION: FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS DISPENSING WITHOUT
PRESCRIPTION" OR "CAUTION: FEDERAL LAW RESTRICTS THIS DRUG TO USE BY OR
ON THE ORDER OF A LICENSED VETERINARIAN" OR ANY SIMILAR RESTRICTIVE
STATEMENT, OR THE DRUG MAY BE DISPENSED ONLY UPON A PRESCRIPTION.
(2) UNDER THIS ARTICLE, THE DRUG MAY BE DISPENSED ONLY UPON A
PRESCRIPTION.
(3) DRUGS THAT CAN ONLY BE DISPENSED TO A PATIENT REGISTERED WITH THE
DRUG'S MANUFACTURER IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL FOOD AND DRUG ADMINIS-
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05203-01-1
A. 1018 2
TRATION REQUIREMENTS MAY NOT BE ACCEPTED OR DISTRIBUTED UNDER THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
2. THE STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY SHALL ESTABLISH A DRUG REPOSITORY
PROGRAM TO ACCEPT AND DISPENSE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS DONATED FOR THE
PURPOSE OF BEING DISPENSED TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF THIS
STATE AND MEET ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS ESTABLISHED IN RULES AND REGU-
LATIONS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD UNDER SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS SECTION.
ONLY PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN THEIR ORIGINAL SEALED AND TAMPER-EVIDENT UNIT
DOSE PACKAGING SHALL BE ACCEPTED AND DISPENSED. THE PACKAGING SHALL BE
UNOPENED, EXCEPT THAT DRUGS PACKAGED IN SINGLE UNIT DOSES SHALL BE
ACCEPTED AND DISPENSED WHEN THE OUTSIDE PACKAGING IS OPENED IF THE
SINGLE UNIT DOSE PACKAGING IS UNDISTURBED. PRESCRIPTION DRUGS DONATED BY
INDIVIDUALS BEARING AN EXPIRATION DATE THAT IS LESS THAN SIX MONTHS FROM
THE DATE THE DRUG IS DONATED SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED OR DISPENSED. A
PRESCRIPTION DRUG SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED OR DISPENSED IF THERE IS REASON
TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS ADULTERATED AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION SIXTY-EIGHT
HUNDRED FIFTEEN OF THIS ARTICLE. SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATION SPECIFIED IN
THIS SUBDIVISION, UNUSED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS DISPENSED FOR PURPOSES OF
THE MEDICAID PROGRAM MAY BE ACCEPTED AND DISPENSED UNDER THE DRUG REPOS-
ITORY PROGRAM.
3. A. ANY PERSON, INCLUDING A DRUG MANUFACTURER OR ANY HEALTH CARE
FACILITY MAY DONATE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS TO THE DRUG REPOSITORY PROGRAM.
THE DRUGS SHALL BE DONATED AT A PHARMACY, HOSPITAL OR NONPROFIT CLINIC
THAT ELECTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DRUG REPOSITORY PROGRAM AND MEETS
CRITERIA FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED IN RULES AND REGU-
LATIONS ADOPTED BY THE STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY UNDER SUBDIVISION FIVE OF
THIS SECTION. PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM BY PHARMACIES, HOSPITALS AND
NONPROFIT CLINICS IS VOLUNTARY. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION REQUIRES A PHAR-
MACY, HOSPITAL OR NONPROFIT CLINIC TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.
B. A PHARMACY, HOSPITAL OR NONPROFIT CLINIC ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE PROGRAM SHALL DISPENSE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS DONATED UNDER THIS SECTION
TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF THIS STATE AND MEET THE ELIGIBILITY
STANDARDS ESTABLISHED IN RULES AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD
UNDER SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS SECTION OR TO OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
AND NONPROFIT PRIVATE ENTITIES TO BE DISPENSED TO INDIVIDUALS WHO MEET
THE ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS. A PRESCRIPTION DRUG SHALL BE DISPENSED ONLY
PURSUANT TO A PRESCRIPTION ISSUED BY A LICENSED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
AUTHORIZED TO PRESCRIBE DRUGS, AS DEFINED IN SECTION SIXTY-EIGHT HUNDRED
TWO OF THIS ARTICLE. A PHARMACY, HOSPITAL OR NONPROFIT CLINIC THAT
ACCEPTS DONATED DRUGS SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAWS AND
LAWS OF THIS STATE DEALING WITH STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION OF DANGEROUS
DRUGS AND SHALL INSPECT ALL PRESCRIPTION DRUGS PRIOR TO DISPENSING THEM
TO DETERMINE THAT SUCH DRUGS ARE NOT ADULTERATED. THE PHARMACY, HOSPITAL
OR NONPROFIT CLINIC SHALL CHARGE INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING DONATED
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS A HANDLING FEE ESTABLISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULES
AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD UNDER SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS
SECTION. PRESCRIPTION DRUGS DONATED TO THE REPOSITORY SHALL NOT BE
RESOLD.
4. A. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, "HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL" MEANS ANY OF
THE FOLLOWING WHO PROVIDE MEDICAL, DENTAL OR OTHER HEALTH-RELATED DIAG-
NOSIS, CARE OR TREATMENT:
(1) INDIVIDUALS AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS TITLE TO PRACTICE MEDICINE AND
SURGERY OR PODIATRIC MEDICINE AND SURGERY;
(2) REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL NURSES AND LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES
LICENSED UNDER ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE OF THIS TITLE;
A. 1018 3
(3) PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE UNDER ARTICLE ONE
HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE-B OF THIS TITLE;
(4) DENTISTS AND DENTAL HYGIENISTS LICENSED UNDER ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED
THIRTY-THREE OF THIS TITLE;
(5) OPTOMETRISTS LICENSED UNDER ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED FORTY-THREE OF
THIS TITLE;
(6) PHARMACISTS LICENSED UNDER THIS ARTICLE.
B. THE STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY; THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH; ANY
PERSON, INCLUDING A DRUG MANUFACTURER OR GOVERNMENT ENTITY THAT DONATES
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS TO THE REPOSITORY PROGRAM; ANY PHARMACY, HOSPITAL,
NONPROFIT CLINIC OR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL THAT ACCEPTS OR DISPENSES
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS UNDER THE PROGRAM; AND ANY PHARMACY, HOSPITAL OR
NONPROFIT CLINIC THAT EMPLOYS A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL WHO, REASONABLY
AND IN GOOD FAITH, ACCEPTS OR DISPENSES PRESCRIPTION DRUGS UNDER THE
PROGRAM SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING FOR MATTERS RELATED
TO DONATING, ACCEPTING OR DISPENSING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS UNDER THE
PROGRAM: CRIMINAL PROSECUTION; LIABILITY IN TORT OR OTHER CIVIL ACTION
FOR INJURY, DEATH OR LOSS TO PERSON OR PROPERTY; OR PROFESSIONAL DISCI-
PLINARY ACTION.
A DRUG MANUFACTURER, WHO ACTS REASONABLY AND IN GOOD FAITH, SHALL NOT
BE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION OR LIABILITY IN TORT OR OTHER CIVIL
ACTION FOR INJURY, DEATH OR LOSS TO PERSON OR PROPERTY FOR MATTERS
RELATED TO THE DONATION, ACCEPTANCE OR DISPENSING OF A PRESCRIPTION DRUG
MANUFACTURED BY THE DRUG MANUFACTURER THAT IS DONATED BY ANY PERSON
UNDER THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LIABILITY FOR FAILURE TO
TRANSFER OR COMMUNICATE PRODUCT OR CONSUMER INFORMATION OR THE EXPIRA-
TION DATE OF THE DONATED PRESCRIPTION DRUG.
5. IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, THE STATE BOARD OF
PHARMACY SHALL ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE DRUG REPOSITORY
PROGRAM THAT ESTABLISH ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
A. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR PHARMACIES, HOSPITALS AND NONPROFIT CLIN-
ICS TO RECEIVE AND DISPENSE DONATED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS UNDER THE
PROGRAM;
B. STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES FOR ACCEPTING, SAFELY STORING AND DISPENS-
ING DONATED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS;
C. STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES FOR INSPECTING DONATED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
TO DETERMINE THAT THE ORIGINAL UNIT DOSE PACKAGING IS SEALED AND
TAMPER-EVIDENT AND THAT THE DRUGS ARE UNADULTERATED, SAFE AND SUITABLE
FOR DISPENSING;
D. ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS BASED ON ECONOMIC NEED FOR INDIVIDUALS TO
RECEIVE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS;
E. A MEANS, SUCH AS AN IDENTIFICATION CARD, BY WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL WHO
IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE DONATED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS SHALL DEMONSTRATE
ELIGIBILITY TO THE PHARMACY, HOSPITAL OR NONPROFIT CLINIC DISPENSING THE
DRUGS;
F. A FORM THAT AN INDIVIDUAL RECEIVING A PRESCRIPTION DRUG FROM THE
REPOSITORY SHALL SIGN BEFORE RECEIVING THE DRUG TO CONFIRM THAT THE
INDIVIDUAL UNDERSTANDS THE IMMUNITY PROVISIONS OF THE PROGRAM;
G. A FORMULA TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF A HANDLING FEE THAT PHARMA-
CIES, HOSPITALS AND NONPROFIT CLINICS SHALL CHARGE TO PRESCRIPTION DRUG
RECIPIENTS TO COVER RESTOCKING AND DISPENSING COSTS;
H. IN ADDITION, FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS DONATED TO THE REPOSITORY BY
INDIVIDUALS:
(1) A LIST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, ARRANGED EITHER BY CATEGORY OR BY
INDIVIDUAL DRUG, THAT THE REPOSITORY SHALL ACCEPT FROM INDIVIDUALS;
A. 1018 4
(2) A LIST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, ARRANGED EITHER BY CATEGORY OR BY
INDIVIDUAL DRUG, THAT THE REPOSITORY SHALL NOT ACCEPT FROM INDIVIDUALS.
THE LIST SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, A STATEMENT AS TO WHY THE
DRUG IS INELIGIBLE FOR DONATION.
(3) A FORM EACH DONOR SHALL SIGN STATING THAT THE DONOR IS THE OWNER
OF THE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND INTENDS TO VOLUNTARILY DONATE SUCH DRUGS
TO THE REPOSITORY.
I. IN ADDITION, FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS DONATED TO THE REPOSITORY BY
HEALTH CARE FACILITIES:
(1) A LIST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, ARRANGED EITHER BY CATEGORY OR BY
INDIVIDUAL DRUG, THAT THE REPOSITORY SHALL ACCEPT FROM HEALTH CARE
FACILITIES;
(2) A LIST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, ARRANGED EITHER BY CATEGORY OR BY
INDIVIDUAL DRUG, THAT THE REPOSITORY SHALL NOT ACCEPT FROM HEALTH CARE
FACILITIES. THE LIST SHALL INCLUDE A STATEMENT AS TO WHY SUCH DRUG IS
INELIGIBLE FOR DONATION.
J. ANY OTHER STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES THE BOARD CONSIDERS APPROPRIATE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
tation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made on or
before such effective date.