Senate amends and passes SB100 to clarify pharmacists' scope and patient privacy protections

The Utah Senate amended and then gave final passage to Senate Bill 100, a measure that clarifies pharmacy licensing language and the scope of pharmacists' duties.

Speaker 3, summarizing the committee amendment, said the change "makes absolutely no changes to what we discussed on the second reading" but "highlights the fact that pharmacists do give nutritional counseling as part of their ongoing daily duties and responsibilities." He added the amendment also addresses patients' rights and "puts this in harmony with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 so that patients are protected."

The clarification was adopted on an amendment vote and the bill was then called for final passage. Clerk roll call results, read aloud by the chamber clerk, showed 24 aye votes, no nay votes and five absentees; the presiding officer announced that SB100 passes and will be referred to the House for further action. The sponsor and staff said the committee amendment is intended to clarify scope-of-practice language and align state statutory language with federal patient-privacy requirements. No organized opposition was recorded during the floor explanation.

SB100's amendment focuses on two discrete items: (1) scope of practice language to make explicit that pharmacists may provide nutritional counseling and related services as part of licensed duties; and (2) patient-rights language adjusted to align with federal privacy protections under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. The floor summary noted the committee amendment does not alter substantive outcomes debated on the second reading.

Next steps: with final passage in the Senate, the measure was ordered referred to the House for their consideration. No further floor debate or amendments were recorded prior to adjournment.