Pharmacy.

Assembly Member Berman's comprehensive pharmacy reform legislation extends the California State Board of Pharmacy's authority through 2030 while modernizing pharmacy practice and strengthening oversight of out-of-state providers. The bill grants the Board exclusive authority to regulate pharmacy practice and establishes a Pharmacy Technician Advisory Committee to provide expertise on technician-related policies.

The legislation expands pharmacists' scope of practice to include furnishing dangerous devices, providing preventive care medications without diagnosis requirements, and completing missing prescription information for non-controlled medications. It renames "advanced practice pharmacists" as "advanced pharmacist practitioners" and maintains their authority to perform patient assessments and modify drug therapy.

For pharmacy operations, the bill increases the pharmacy technician-to-pharmacist ratio from 1:1 to 3:1 in single-pharmacist locations and requires all licensed facilities to complete biennial self-assessments. Pharmacists-in-charge gain explicit authority to determine appropriate staffing ratios within prescribed limits, with protections against interference in these decisions.

The measure introduces new requirements for nonresident pharmacies, including mandating a California-licensed pharmacist-in-charge and allowing Board inspections. Mail-order pharmacies face enhanced oversight and potential fines up to $100,000 for repeated violations. The bill waives application fees for pharmacies opening in medically underserved areas and permits fee waivers for annual license renewals in these locations.

To strengthen compliance, the legislation requires electronic record-keeping with audit trails and establishes protocols for addressing dangerous conditions in pharmacies. Chain pharmacies face increased fines for systemic violations, while new defenses are available when violations contradict written policies or are promptly corrected.