ASSEMBLY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
[First Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 5667
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: DECEMBER 12, 2019
The Assembly Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 5667 (1R).
As amended and reported by the committee, this bill requires each pharmacy practice site that dispenses prescription drugs, other than a long-term care pharmacy, to, when dispensing to an individual located in this State a prescription drug or medication which is a controlled dangerous substance, and when dispensing any other prescription drug or medication as may be designated by the Commissioner of Health by regulation: (1) provide the patient with written informational materials advising that there are risks when unused, unwanted, or expired drugs and medications are not properly, safely, and promptly disposed of; (2) have available on-site, for purchase or at no cost to the patient, at least one consumer method for individuals to dispose of unwanted or expired prescription drugs, including, but not limited to over-the-counter drug disposal solutions for use at home and secured medication collection kiosks or boxes; and (3) provide the patient with written informational materials concerning how to properly, safely, and promptly dispose of unused, unwanted, or expired drugs and medications. The individual dispensing the prescription drug, or an appropriate designee, is to answer any questions the patient may have upon receiving the written informational materials pursuant to this paragraph.
The bill requires household drug disposal solutions to alter the characteristics of the prescription drug through chemical, biological, or physical means so as to have a beneficial effect on the environment. Medication collection kiosks or boxes are to be marked or identified by prominent signage.
The bill requires that, any time a pharmacy practice site that dispenses prescription drugs, other than a long-term care pharmacy, sells or dispenses a hypodermic syringe or needle, regardless of whether the hypodermic syringe or needle is sold or dispensed pursuant to a prescription, the pharmacy practice site is to provide the patient with informational materials made available through the Internet website of the Department of Health.
Under the bill, if a patient is enrolled in the hospice care program, and if any change is made to the patient’s course of treatment that results in a change in the drugs or medications prescribed for the patient, or in the patient discontinuing the use of a prescription drug or medication, the hospice care program is to: (1) provide the patient or the patient’s health care representative with oral instructions and written informational materials advising that there are risks when unused, unwanted, or expired drugs and medications are not properly, safely, and promptly disposed of; (2) make available for purchase or at no cost to the patient an at-home or site-of-use prescription medication disposal product, and (3) provide the patient with written informational materials concerning how to properly, safely, and promptly dispose of unused, unwanted, or expired drugs and medications.
Under the bill, a nurse in the hospice care program may dispose of unused drugs or medications using an at-home or site-of-use drug disposal solution.
This bill is named “Charlie’s Law” after Charlie Van Tassel, a young man who struggled with addiction for many years before finally succumbing in 2013, at the age of 33.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:
The committee amendments provide the following: 1) technical changes; 2) removal of references to certain laws and regulations; 3) disposal solutions are to alter the characteristics of prescription drugs through chemical, biological, or physical means so as to have a beneficial effect on the environment; and 4) and certain informational materials are to be made available through the Internet website of the Department of Health.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This bill is not certified as requiring a fiscal note.