HBA-MPM H.B. 970 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 970 By: Van de Putte Public Health 3/8/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, state law gives the State Board of Pharmacy (board) the authority to approve pilot and demonstration projects for innovative applications in the practice of pharmacy. This law allows the board to include an "exception to rules" in the approval of these projects, although, this exception can only be allowed during the term of the pilot project and must end upon its termination. H.B. 970 allows the board to extend an "exception to the rule" to cover the time necessary to propose and adopt any changes to the rules based on the results of the project. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority previously delegated to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy is modified in SECITON 3 (Article 4542a-1, V.T.C.S. (Texas Pharmacy Act)), of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 17(v), Article 4542a-1, V.T.C.S. (Texas Pharmacy Act), to authorize the Texas State Board of Pharmacy to extend the time an exception to a rule adopted regarding pilot and demonstration research projects for innovative applications in the practice of pharmacy is granted as necessary for the board to adopt an amendment or modification of the rule. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.