§ 45:14-48 — Responsibilities of board.

9. a. The board shall be responsible for the control and regulation of the practice of pharmacy in this State including, but not limited to, the following: (1) The licensing by examination or by license transfer of applicants who are qualified to engage in the practice of pharmacy under the provisions of this act; (2) The renewal of licenses to engage in the practice of pharmacy; (3) The establishment and enforcement of professional standards and rules of conduct of pharmacists engaged in the practice of pharmacy; (4) The establishment of requirements for pharmacists to engage in collaborative practice; (5) The establishment of requirements jointly promulgated with the State Board of Medial Examiners for pharmacists to administer drugs directly to patients; (6) The enforcement of those provisions of this act relating to the conduct or competence of pharmacists practicing in this State, and the suspension, revocation, failure to renew or restriction of licenses to engage in the practice of pharmacy pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1978, c.73 (C.45:1-14 et seq.); (7) The regulation of pharmacy practiced through any technological means; (8) The regulation and control of automated medication systems and automated medication devices within or outside of pharmacy practice sites; (9) The right to seize any drugs and devices found by the board to constitute an imminent danger to the public health and welfare; (10) The establishment of minimum specifications for record keeping, prescription and patient profile record maintenance, pharmacy practice sites including, but not limited to, the physical premises, technical equipment, environment, supplies, personnel and procedures for the storage, compounding and dispensing of drugs or devices, and for the monitoring of drug therapy; (11) The inspection of any pharmacy practice site at all reasonable hours for the purpose of determining if any provisions of the laws governing the legal distribution of drugs or devices or the practice of pharmacy are being violated. The board, its officers, inspectors and representatives shall cooperate with all agencies charged with the enforcement of the laws of the United States, of this State, and of all other states relating to drugs, devices and the practice of pharmacy; (12) The inspection of prescription files and the prescription records of a pharmacy and the removal from the files and taking possession of any original prescription, providing that the authorized agent removing or taking possession of an original prescription shall place in the file from which it was removed a copy certified by that person to be a true copy of the original prescription removed; provided further, that the original copy shall be returned by the board to the file from which it was removed after it has served the purpose for which it was removed; (13) The establishment of requirements for patient counseling, patient profiles and drug utilization reviews; (14) The establishment of regulations to protect the health and safety of pharmacy patients; and (15) The prescribing or changing of the fees for examinations, certifications, licensures, renewals and other services performed pursuant to P.L.1974, c.46 (C.45:1-3.1 et seq.) and this act. b. The board shall have those other duties, powers and authority as may be necessary to the enforcement of this act and to the enforcement of rules and regulations of the board, which may include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) The determination and issuance of standards, recognition and approval of degree programs of schools and colleges of pharmacy whose graduates shall be eligible for licensure in this State, and the specifications and enforcement of requirements for practical training, including internships; (2) The registration of externs, interns, pharmacy preceptors and pharmacy technicians; (3) The regulation of the training, qualifications and conduct of applicants, externs, interns, pharmacy preceptors and pharmacy technicians; (4) The collection of professional demographic data; (5) The joining with those professional organizations and associations organized to promote the improvement of the standards of the practice of pharmacy for the protection of the health and welfare of the public or whose activities assist and facilitate the work of the board; (6) The establishment of a bill of rights for patients concerning the health care services a patient may expect in regard to pharmaceutical care; (7) The engagement in activities to educate consumers, to assist them in obtaining information necessary to make decisions about medication issues; (8) The establishment of standards for the continuing education of registered pharmacists; (9) The establishment of rules and regulations for extraordinary emergency situations that interfere with the ability to practice under the current rules and regulations; (10) The establishment of guidelines for board approved pilot programs. The guidelines shall be complied with to implement a program that may not be presently acknowledged in this act or its rules or regulations; and (11) The assurance that any credentialing or certification of a pharmacist is not misleading to the public. c. (1) The board may place under seal all drugs, biologicals, radio pharmaceuticals or devices that are owned by or in the possession, custody or control of a licensee or permit holder at the time his license or permit is suspended or revoked or at the time the board refused to renew his license. Except as otherwise provided in this section, drugs, biologicals, radio pharmaceuticals or devices that are sealed pursuant to this paragraph shall not be disposed of until appeal rights under the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) have expired, or an appeal filed pursuant to that act has been determined. The court, involved in an appeal filed pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," may order the board, during the pendency of the appeal, to sell sealed drugs, biologicals and radio pharmaceuticals that are perishable. The proceeds of a sale shall be deposited with the court. (2) Notwithstanding any provisions of this act to the contrary, whenever a duly authorized representative of the board finds, or has probable cause to believe, that any drug or device is outdated, adulterated or misbranded within the meaning of the "Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act," 21 U.S.C.s.301 et seq., the representative shall affix to that drug or device a tag or other appropriate marking giving notice that the article is or is suspected of being outdated, adulterated or misbranded, had been detained or embargoed, and warning all persons not to remove or dispose of the article by sale or otherwise until provision for removing or disposal is given by the board, its agent or the court. No person shall remove or dispose of an embargoed drug or device by sale or otherwise without the permission of the board or its agent or, after summary proceedings have been instituted, without permission of the court. (3) When a drug or device detained or embargoed under paragraph (2) of this subsection c. has been declared by the representative to be outdated, adulterated or misbranded, the board shall, as soon as practical thereafter, petition the judge of the court in which jurisdiction the article is detained or embargoed for an order for condemnation of that article. If the judge determines that this drug or device so detained or embargoed is not adulterated, outdated or misbranded, the board shall direct the immediate removal of the tag or other marking. (4) If the court finds that a detained or embargoed drug or device is adulterated, outdated or misbranded, that drug or device, after entry of the decree, shall be destroyed at the expense of the owner under the supervision of a board representative and all court costs and fees, storage and other proper expenses shall be borne by the owner of that drug or device. When the outdating, adulteration or misbranding can be corrected by proper labeling or processing of the drug or device, the court, after entry of the decree and after the costs, fees and expenses have been paid and a good and sufficient bond has been posted, may direct that the drug or device be delivered to the owner thereof for labeling or processing under the supervision of a board representative. Expense of that supervision shall be paid by the owner. The bond shall be returned to the owner of the drug or device on representation to the court by the board that the drug or device is no longer in violation of the embargo and the expense of supervision has been paid. d. Except as otherwise provided to the contrary, the board shall exercise all of its duties, powers and authority in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.). L.2003,c.280,s.9.