What's happening
This bill makes it a felony to knowingly sell, purchase, or distribute adulterated, counterfeit, or unapproved prescription drugs.
Why it matters
Targets the entire supply chain. The bill criminalizes not just the sale, but also the packaging, purchase, and distribution of adulterated, counterfeit, or unapproved prescription drugs—meaning anyone involved at any stage, from wholesaler to retailer, could be held liable.
Expands law enforcement powers. Drugs involved in these unlawful transactions would be considered contraband and could be seized by state departments or law enforcement, potentially increasing regulatory scrutiny and enforcement actions against suspected violators.
Protects patient safety and legitimate pharmacists. By making these offenses felonies and specifically exempting legitimate compounding by pharmacists with valid prescriptions, the law aims to safeguard patients from dangerous drugs while protecting pharmacists who follow proper procedures.
Creates a strong deterrent. The felony classification (class D) carries serious legal consequences, which could deter individuals and businesses from engaging in illegal drug transactions and help maintain the integrity of the pharmaceutical market.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Illegal Prescription Drug Sales
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Enacting clause stricken
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2630
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 20, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to unlawful transactions of prescription drugs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6810-a to read as follows:
§ 6810-a. Unlawful transactions. 1. It shall be unlawful for any person to: (a) knowingly package, sell, deliver for sale, hold for sale or offer for sale, purchase, deliver for purchase, hold for purchase or offer for purchase (i) any prescription drug that he or she knows is adulterated, misbranded, counterfeit or has otherwise been rendered unfit for distribution, or (ii) any drug not approved by the United States food and drug administration or successor thereto for sale, other than a drug compounded by a pharmacist pursuant to a valid prescription from an authorized prescriber; or (b) intentionally sell, transfer, distribute or deliver a prescription drug to any wholesaler who is not licensed or registered pursuant to this article. For purposes of this section, a compounded drug means a drug created by the combining, admixing, mixing, diluting, pooling, reconstituting, or otherwise altering of a marked and approved drug substance.
2. A person who violates this section shall be guilty of a class D felony.
3. Any drug packaged, sold, transferred, distributed or delivered in violation of this section shall be contraband and subject to seizure by the department, the department of health or any law enforcement officer of the state.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06288-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.