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Board records committee recommendations and votes on several pharmacy‑related bills during April meeting
Summary
The board’s Legislation and Regulation Committee presented recommendations and the full board voted to adopt positions on multiple bills under consideration in the California Legislature; several received board support, others were set to watch.
The California State Board of Pharmacy’s Legislation and Regulation Committee summarized committee recommendations and the full board recorded votes on multiple bills during its April meeting. Committee chairs described each measure and the board took the committee’s recommendation as the formal motion.
Key outcomes recorded during the meeting (committee recommendation and board vote):
- AB 50 (pharmacist furnishing of over‑the‑counter contraception without standardized prescription procedures; allow up to a 12‑month supply): Committee recommended support; board voted to support the measure (roll‑call confirmation recorded). Chair Jesse Crowley noted the committee recorded public comment in favor and the board approved the support position.
- AB 447 (allowing emergency‑department dispensing of an unused portion of a dangerous drug under specified conditions; ADDS licensing exemption discussion): Committee recommended to watch pending amendments to clarify “unused portion” and labeling requirements; board took a watch position (no support/oppose recorded).
- AB 529 (extension of certain emergency waiver authorities after a declared emergency): Committee recommended support; board voted to support the measure.
- AB 667 (language access for examinations / interpreters): Committee recommended watch (amendments may move the measure outside the Board’s jurisdiction); board took a watch position.
- AB 669 (minimum days of inpatient or intensive substance use disorder treatment and prior‑authorization prohibition): Committee recommended support; board voted to support the measure.
- AB 957 (ban on sale of tobacco products in pharmacies/buildings containing a pharmacy): Committee recommended support; board voted to support the measure. Public comment noted some sponsors seek building‑wide restrictions when a pharmacy is located inside a store.
- AB 1037 (remove sunset for pharmacists furnishing syringes/needles): Committee recommended support; board voted to support the measure.
- AB 1460 (prohibiting certain discriminatory manufacturer practices affecting covered entities and 340B programs): Committee recommended support; board voted to support the measure. Committee discussion noted concerns about actions that would restrict 340B programs and the downstream effect on safety‑net providers.
- AB 1503 (board sunset and title change from Advanced Practice Pharmacist to Advanced Pharmacist Practitioner): Committee recommended support; board voted to support the sunset bill and the title change was noted as part of the sunset package.
- SB 41 (PBM regulation): Committee recommended support; board voted to support the measure. Committee discussion emphasized transparency concerns about pharmacy benefit managers and urged the board to communicate its position to the legislature.
- SB 470 (permanent teleconferencing flexibilities under Bagley‑Keene): Committee recommended support; board voted to support the measure.
- SB 497 (protections for release of information related to gender‑affirming care): Committee recommended support; board voted to support the measure.
- SB 548 (state advisory group and plan to reduce substance‑use deaths): Committee recommended support and suggested pharmacist representation should be included on the advisory group; board voted to support the measure.
- SB 641 (board waiver authority during declared emergencies; email maintenance requirement): Committee recommended support; board voted to support the measure.
How the board acted: for most bills the committee’s recommendation was adopted by the full board with roll‑call recorded votes. When a motion required only a “watch” the committee recommended monitoring the measure through policy committee hearings rather than taking a formal support or oppose position.
Public comment: multiple presenters from CPHA, hospital systems, and pharmacist organizations spoke in support of measures addressing 340B protections, PBM regulation, medication access, and pharmacist scope expansion. Several commenters urged including pharmacists on advisory bodies created by new bills.
The board’s next committee meeting is scheduled in June; several measures will be monitored further as the legislative cycle advances. The board noted it will follow amended bills and review any legislative text changes before taking new or updated positions.
