MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House of Representatives advanced legislation on Thursday mandating the restructuring of the state's pharmacy board and sunsetting it for only one year to ensure the changes are implemented.
Occupational licensing boards typically sunset every four years, meaning the legislature must reapprove them through a bill, or they dissolve.
Typically, lawmakers will instigate a much shorter sunset if there are pervasive issues with the board that they believe need to be addressed. This year, lawmakers have taken aim at the Alabama State Board of Pharmacy (ABOP) after a litany of complaints and accusations.
The bill, sponsored by State Rep. Kerry Underwood (R-Tuscumbia), changes the makeup of the board and its makeup, including adding four members to the existing board of five members, a new secretary appointed by the board who hasn't served in any capacity with the board over the last five years, and removing the board's authority to set "non-disciplinary administrative fines."
In August, ABOP was subjected to an hours-long grilling from lawmakers after an Alabama Examiners of Public Accounts report found multiple "significant problems" with the board's operations and perceived retaliatory practices against licensees.
The issues included income reporting, over-fining, levying non-specified fees, charging non-licensed entities, meeting minutes that are inconsistent with board actions, violations of Alabama's Open Meetings Act, failure to file oaths of office with the secretary of state's office, failing to deposit receipts promptly, violating the state's open-bidding rules, inaccurate invoicing, overpaying vendors over the contracted amount and unlawfully procuring supplies and services.
The bill passed the House with no pushback from lawmakers. However, State Rep. Margie Wilcox (R-Mobile) offered an amendment that clarified the board's adherence to the Alabama Open Meetings Act.
The bill passed 101-0, with one abstention from House Pro Tem Chris Pringle (R-Mobile).
Following the vote, House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) applauded the bill and the Sunset Committee's work in implementing changes to licensing boards.
"That committee did a lot of work in trying to clean up some of those issues that was on different boards, not just that board," Ledbetter said. "And they've done a really good job."
"They've been working on this for several months. You've got to give them credit for what they've done because they've come to where they think they can get something out, and they did. It passed pretty strong today. So, kudos to [Underwood] and the rest of that committee for the work they've done on it because they've been very open and very transparent. I think that's what the people want," he added.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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