Committee sends bill to add certified pharmacy technician to Idaho Board of Pharmacy to the floor

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Feb. 20 voted to send House Bill 286 to the full Senate with a due pass recommendation. The bill would add a certified registered pharmacy technician to the Idaho Board of Pharmacy and raise the board’s membership to seven.

Senator Camille Blaylock, senator from District 11 and sponsor, said, “House Bill 286 is adding a certified registered pharmacy technician to the board of pharmacy for the state. In order for the pharmacy technician to be on the board, they must be a resident of Idaho. They must be registered with the state and in good standing.” She added that the technician must be “currently engaged in the pharmacy practice, have practiced for at least 3 years, and then while they're on the board they must maintain their pharmacy designation or the certified pharmacy technician designation.”

The bill’s supporters told lawmakers the change would bring an operational viewpoint to board decisions. Caroline Merritt of the Idaho Society of Health System Pharmacy said Idaho has expanded pharmacy technicians’ roles and added, “Inviting technicians to serve on the board reflects their expanded integral role within the pharmacy team, and then the knowledge and the insight that they'll be able to bring to regulatory decisions and then disciplinary cases as well as those come before the board.” Merritt noted the bill requires a certified pharmacy technician designation and at least three years’ experience.

Jessica Bowen, a hospital director who said she started as a technician and has 25 years in pharmacy, testified: “A collaborative approach between pharmacists and technicians is crucial for patient safety and optimal care. Pharmacy technicians are at the forefront of pharmacy operations and their insight should be represented in decision making.” Charlene Harper, a pharmacy technician representative for the Idaho Society of Health System Pharmacy, said technicians now perform advanced roles and “incorporating the pharmacy technician on the board of pharmacy would not only bring a fresh perspective to the board, but also help align policy and regulations.”

Pam Eaton, president and CEO of the Idaho State Pharmacy Association and the Idaho Retailers Association, told the committee the association supports the bill and that keeping more pharmacist seats helps ensure representation across rural and urban practice settings.

Senator Shippey asked about the fiscal impact; committee discussion cited a fiscal note indicating a modest per‑member cost. During questioning, Senator Shippey referenced an estimate that the change could cost the state “$2,800 more per year,” and proponents said the Board of Pharmacy’s licensing fee revenues would absorb the increase. Eaton said the board’s budget “can easily absorb this with no problem,” and that the funding would come from licensing fees and fines.

Senator Wintrow moved to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation; Senator Buerke seconded. The motion passed on an oral vote with no recorded opposition.

If enacted, the bill would add one certified registered pharmacy technician seat and one pharmacist seat to the Board of Pharmacy to keep the membership odd; the bill requires the technician to hold the certified designation and have at least three years’ pharmacy practice prior to appointment.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 286 — motion to send to the floor with a due pass recommendation; mover: Senator Wintrow; second: Senator Buerke; outcome: approved by voice vote.