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Department of Consumer Protection seeks funding for prescription import program, homemaker agency oversight; cannabis positions moving to general fund
Summary
DCP told the committee the governor—s budget funds a pilot prescription drug importation program, shifts cannabis-funded positions into the general fund, and requests an added investigator for homemaker companion agency oversight; officials said the agency recovered more than $8 million for consumers last year.
The Department of Consumer Protection told the Appropriations subcommittee that the governor—s proposed budget includes resources to support a Canadian prescription drug importation program, expand oversight of homemaker companion agencies, and move positions funded by the cannabis fund into the general fund.
Deputy Commissioner Maureen Magnan said the agency returned "well over $8,000,000 to consumers through our Guarantee Funds and Lehi Law Program" and said the governor—s budget "provides DCP with the resources necessary to continue our work regulating and ensuring fair marketplaces for consumers and businesses." She listed operational changes the agency has implemented, including license modernization and oversight of new license types.
Prescription drug importation and PDMP: The budget includes first-year consultant funding for a Canadian drug importation program (Magnan said $100,000 in year one) and a proposed transfer of the state—s prescription drug monitoring software contract into Department of Administrative Services (a $694,000 item described as software to support the PDMP). DCP identified the vendor as "Bamboo."
Cannabis funding shift: Magnan explained an administrative move that shifts 62 cannabis-related positions from the cannabis fund into the general fund so positions mirror where cannabis revenue is tracked. She described cannabis oversight staff (drug control agents and health associates who monitor testing and packaging) and said total adult-use and medical sales since the program started in January 2023 were about $591,000,000 with monthly sales of about $23,000,000 in January (figures provided by DCP during Q&A).
Homemaker companion oversight: To strengthen oversight of rapidly growing homemaker companion agencies, DCP requested an additional special investigator (the department currently has two). Magnan told lawmakers that number of agencies had "ballooned" and an extra investigator would allow more audits and complaint responses; committee members pressed for authority and enforcement pathways, and DCP said some referrals would be turned to DPH or law enforcement depending on findings.
Other details: DCP said its statutory headcount is 220 but it actually operates with 182 employees and about 12 vacancies (PS line limits hiring). DCP also noted a general-fund personal services lapse of about $1.3 million in the current year that factored into proposed PS adjustments.
What lawmakers asked: Members asked about aligning cannabis and alcohol retail hours, digital licensing and QR codes for tradespeople, the consultant costs and multi-year requirements for the drug importation work, the scale of the homemaker oversight and how DCP would coordinate with DPH for health/safety issues and with law enforcement for abuse/neglect allegations.
Ending: DCP said it will provide further detail on cannabis fund recipients and the breakdown of agencies that receive cannabis-related revenue and agreed to follow up with OFA on the scope of PDMP contracting and the planned conversion to DAS contracting.
No votes were taken; the testimony will be followed by requests for more specific budget backup and vendor details.
