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History
- Substituted by A1101B
- Amended on third reading 3944b
- Amended on third reading (t) 3944a
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1165
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Authorizes pharmacies to take back controlled substances
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Aileen Gunther
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S3944B
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to authorizing pharmacies to take back controlled substances
Purpose
Provides additional avenues of controlled substance disposal and encourages disposal of unused medications by authorizing pharmacies to establish controlled substances take-back programs.
Summary of provisions
Section one adds a new Public Health Law § 3343-b to require the Department of Health to include pharmacies as disposal sites in the safe disposal of unused controlled substances program, pharmacies must be designated by the Commissioner and must transfer the controlled substances to an authorized disposal site.
Section two provides the effective date.
Justification
Under current federal rules, controlled substances can only be surrendered to law enforcement agencies. Implementing the Secure and Responsible Drug, Disposal Act of 2010, the DEA published proposed regulations for disposing of controlled substance prescription drugs in December of 2012. The proposed regulations seek to expand options for drug disposal through take-back events, mail-back programs and collection box locations. Among other things, these provisions would allow retail pharmacies to administer mail-back programs and maintain collection boxes.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 70% of controlled substance prescription abusers get their drugs from a family member or friend. This highlights the need for New York to be proactive in getting unused, excess medications out of medicine cabinets and into the proper hands for disposal. This bill ensures that upon adoption of federal regulations permitting such, the Department of Health shall permit pharmacy take-back programs. By making avenues of disposal more readily available, this bill-will result in less drugs being available for misuse.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
N one.
Effective date
One year after it shall become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.