THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2390

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO PHARMACIST LICENSure.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The University of Hawaii at Hilo, college of pharmacy, accepted its first class in the fall of 2007, and is the only accredited pharmacy school in Hawaii and the Pacific basin.  For decades, Hawaii has been viewed as the crossroads of the Pacific, merging cultures and people from all walks of life.  Thus, students from Hawaii, other states, the United States territories and possessions, and even other countries, come to study at the University of Hawaii at Hilo's college of pharmacy.  The University of Hawaii at Hilo college of pharmacy is currently on track for full accreditation in 2011 when its first class of pharmacy students will graduate.

     In order to graduate from the college of pharmacy, students must participate in advanced pharmacy practice experiences in their fourth and final year.  The advanced pharmacy practice experiences begin in the summer after the third year of pharmacy school and includes a minimum of 1,440 hours of practical experience.  Students participate in six different types of rotations.  Mandatory rotations include a hospital or health system pharmacy, an inpatient/acute care facility, an ambulatory care clinic, and a community pharmacy.  Students may take an additional two electives to fulfill the experience requirements.

     The first class of the University of Hawaii at Hilo college of pharmacy will begin their advanced pharmacy practice experiences rotations in May of 2010.  Students will perform their rotations in the traditional pharmacy setting as well as other designated advanced practice locations under the supervision of a registered pharmacist where the practice of pharmacy occurs.  Geographically, the rotations will occur in Hawaii and other states, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories.

     As section 461-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is currently written, only the hours of practical experience performed in a pharmacy in one of the fifty states count toward the one thousand five hundred hours of practical experience required for licensure as a pharmacist.  As such, students who perform their rotations outside of the traditional pharmacy setting will not receive credit that counts toward their licensure requirements, even though those students are engaged in the practice of pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist at other designated advanced practice locations, such as clinics and acute care facilities.  Moreover, advanced pharmacy practice experiences rotations performed in one of the United States territories or the District of Columbia will not count toward licensure requirements.

     Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to ensure that advanced pharmacy practice experiences rotations performed in a United States territory or the District of Columbia, or at a designated advanced practice location under the supervision of a registered pharmacist, count toward licensure requirements.

     SECTION 2.  Section 461-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

     ""Territory" means Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, Guam, or American Samoa."

     SECTION 3.  Section 461-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Any applicant for a license as a pharmacist shall submit an application on a form prescribed by the board and shall provide evidence to the board that the applicant:

     (1)  Is at least eighteen years of age;

     (2)  Holds a degree from a school or college of pharmacy or department in a university which is recognized and accredited by the American Council of Pharmaceutical Education;

     (3)  Has a minimum of fifteen hundred hours practical experience in any state or territory of the United States [in a pharmacy], or the District of Columbia, under the supervision of a registered pharmacist.  Service and experience [in a pharmacy] under the supervision of a registered pharmacist as required in this section shall be predominantly related to the [selling of drugs, compounding prescriptions, preparing pharmaceutical preparations, and keeping records and making reports required under state and federal statutes.] practice of pharmacy as defined under section 461-1.  In the event an applicant has no practical experience as required, the applicant may take the examination and upon passing the examination, shall not receive a license until after the fulfillment of the practical experience requirement;

     (4)  Has passed an examination as may be prescribed by the board; and

     (5)  Does not have an encumbered license or a pending disciplinary action or unresolved complaint in the practice of pharmacy in any state or territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, or if any license has been or is encumbered, the applicant shall provide all information requested by the board."

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Pharmacy; Licensure; University of Hawaii at Hilo; College of Pharmacy

 

Description:

Broadens the practical experience requirements for a pharmacist license to include experience obtained in U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.  Removes the requirement that supervision must take place in a pharmacy.  Broadens the experience requirements to relate to the practice of pharmacy.

 

 

 

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