HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1115

BYRepresentatives Zellinsky, Schmidt, Baugher, Pruitt, Sayan, Haugen, Scott, Vekich, Padden, Cooper and R. Meyers 

Authorizing purchase of legend drugs by animal control agencies.

House Committe on Agriculture & Rural Development

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (12)

      Signed by Representatives Rayburn, Chair; Kremen, Vice Chair; Nealey, Ranking Republican Member; Baugher, Chandler, Doty, Grant, Jesernig, McLean, H. Myers, Rasmussen and Youngsman.

House Staff:Kenneth Hirst (786-7104)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

FEBRUARY 7, 1989

BACKGROUND:

"Legend drugs" are defined by the state's prescription drug laws as being drugs which may be dispensed on prescription only or which are restricted to use by practitioners only.

With certain exceptions, persons who manufacture, distribute, or dispense certain controlled substances are required by the state's Uniform Controlled Substances Act to register with the State Board of Pharmacy.  Under the provisions of the Act, a humane society and animal control agency may apply to the Board for registration for the sole purpose of being authorized to purchase, possess, and administer sodium pentobarbital to euthanize injured, sick, or unwanted domestic pets and animals.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  Humane societies and animal control agencies registered with the State Board of Pharmacy under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act and authorized to euthanize animals may also purchase, possess, and administer certain legend drugs for the sole purpose of sedating animals prior to euthanasia and for use in chemical capture programs.  The legend drugs which may be used are those designated by the Board of Pharmacy by rule as being approved for this use and do not include substances regulated under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.  The Board must adopt rules to regulate the purchase, possession, and administration of legend drugs by the humane societies and animal control agencies and to ensure strict compliance.

Such a society or agency may not permit persons to administer any legend drugs unless they have demonstrated adequate knowledge of the potential hazards and proper techniques involved. In addition to any other authority the Board may have for suspending or revoking a registration, the Board may do so upon determining that this knowledge has not been demonstrated by the persons administering the drugs.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The substitute bill expressly permits the Board of Pharmacy to designate the legend drugs that may be used by humane societies and animal control agencies and prohibits any substance regulated under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act from being so designated.  The substitute bill also broadens the authority granted to the Board to regulate the purchase, possession, and administration of legend drugs by these societies and agencies.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 30, 1989.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Roger Childress, Washington State Federation of Humane Societies; Don Williams, Board of Pharmacy; and Greg Hanon, State Veterinary Medical Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (1) Humane societies have, in the past, received "blanket" prescriptions for the drugs needed to sedate animals.  They have been informed that a separate prescription is needed for each animal.  The bill eliminates this unrealistic requirement.  (2) The Board of Pharmacy will apply the same type of controls on the use of these drugs as it currently enforces for the 26 animal control agencies registered to use pentobarbital.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.