AB 2859: Pharmacy: safe storage products.

Existing law, the Pharmacy Law, provides for the licensure and regulation of pharmacists and pharmacies by the California State Board of Pharmacy, which is within the Department of Consumer Affairs, and provides that a violation of that law is punishable as a misdemeanor.

This bill would require a pharmacy that dispenses Schedule II, III, or IV controlled substances to display safe storage products in a place on the building premises that is located close to the pharmacy, unless the pharmacy meets 2 requirements related to the ownership and management of the pharmacy. The bill would require the board to assess a fine against a pharmacy for violation of these provisions, except that the bill would allow the board to choose not to take administrative action against a pharmacy if the board determines that compliance with the law would create a financial hardship on the pharmacy or that the pharmacy is temporarily out of stock of safe storage products. The bill would specify that a violation of these provisions shall not be punishable as a misdemeanor. The bill would also define certain terms for these purposes. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2023.