HBA-CMT H.B. 99 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 99 By: Maxey Public Health 2/7/2001 BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The United States Congress and state legislatures have enacted safeguards to protect citizens from harm resulting from the use of unsafe drugs, counterfeit drugs, and the improper practice of pharmacy. These safeguards, however, have not been extended in Texas to protect citizens from the improper sale of drugs by online practitioners and pharmacies. House Bill 99 extends these safeguards by requiring the Texas State Board of Pharmacy to adopt rules regarding the sale and delivery of prescription drugs by use of electronic media, including the Internet. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy in SECTION 1 (Sections 554.055, Occupations Code) and SECTION 2 of this bill. ANALYSIS House Bill 99 amends the Occupations Code to require the Texas State Board of Pharmacy to adopt rules regarding the sale and delivery of drugs by use of the electronic media, including the Internet. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.