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HB 171

Sexual exploitation of children-amendments.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Bill Allemand and 9 co-sponsors

Licensed custodial care facilities meeting criteria may possess dangerous drugs, including some controlled substances, for medically monitored withdrawal management under board rul

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Bill Summary · HB 171

HB 171 — Pharmacy: Custodial Care Facilities (Final / Enacted Version)

Status: Signed into law
Effective date: January 1, 2026
Subject: Health / Pharmacy regulation

Main purpose

Allow certain licensed custodial care facilities to acquire, stock, maintain, and possess dangerous drugs — including specified controlled substances — for medically monitored withdrawal management, subject to Board of Pharmacy rules and supervision requirements.

Key provisions

  • Adds a new section to the state Pharmacy Act authorizing licensed custodial care facilities that meet all of the following to possess dangerous drugs for withdrawal management:
    • Are authorized to provide medically monitored withdrawal management;
    • Operate under the supervision of a consulting pharmacist; and
    • Maintain nursing staff on-site 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
  • Permits possession of "dangerous drugs, including controlled substances" for withdrawal management “in accordance with board rules.”
  • Defines “controlled substance” for this section as substances listed in Schedules III and V of the Controlled Substances Act.
  • Sets the law’s effective date as January 1, 2026 to allow the Board of Pharmacy time to promulgate implementing rules and update administrative systems.

Who is affected

  • Licensed custodial care facilities that provide medically monitored withdrawal management (e.g., certain residential treatment centers), their consulting pharmacists, and on-site nursing staff.
  • The Board of Pharmacy, which must adopt rules and update licensing/IT systems.
  • Patients undergoing withdrawal who would receive medications onsite.
  • Potentially the Corrections Department or other custodial operators if they meet the statutory facility definition and wish to offer withdrawal management.
  • Payers/insurers and providers: the fiscal note notes potential reimbursement issues (facilities may bill patients or go unreimbursed).

Fiscal & administrative impact

  • Board of Pharmacy estimates approximately $70,000 nonrecurring (Board fund) for rulemaking and IT changes to create/modify controlled-substance registration for the new facility category.
  • Facilities will need to comply with pharmacy regulation (including secure storage and inventory) and obtain state and federal (DEA) controlled-substance registration. The fiscal note warns federal law does not provide an exception allowing non-registrants to transfer controlled substances to a non-DEA-registered custodial facility.
  • Additional administrative costs for facilities may include licensing, compliance, storage equipment, staffing/training, and possible unreimbursed drug costs.

Implementation / timeline

  • Law effective January 1, 2026.
  • Board of Pharmacy expected to promulgate rules and update systems before facilities can fully operationalize controlled-substance possession under this authority.

Noted issues / ambiguities

  • Whether particular facility types (e.g., correctional institutions, adult accredited residential treatment centers) fall within the statutory definition of “custodial care facility” may require clarification or further rulemaking.
  • The statute requires compliance with Board rules; details (training standards, recordkeeping, security, inventory controls) will be defined in rulemaking.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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