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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
pharmacy board; renewals; ownership change
Purpose
Modifies pharmacy regulations by revising licensing, renewal and continuing education requirements, expanding permissible delivery locations for prescriptions and establishing requirements for continued operation of a pharmacy during a change of ownership.
Background
The Arizona State Board of Pharmacy (Board) is the regulatory body responsible for the licensing and oversight of pharmacies and pharmacy professionals in Arizona. The Board regulates the practice of pharmacy, licenses qualified applicants, conducts pharmacist examinations, approves pharmacy colleges and programs, issues permits to distributors of medications and regulates distribution, sale and storage of prescription medications, prescriptive devices and nonprescription medication. Additionally, the Board is authorized to conduct inspections and to take enforcement actions and disciplinary measures against licensees (A.R.S. § 32-1904).
Current statute prohibits the Board from renewing a pharmacist or pharmacy technician license unless the licensee has complied with the mandatory continuing professional pharmacy education requirements. Currently, 30 continuing education hours are required for pharmacist license renewal and 20 continuing education hours are required for pharmacy technician license renewal (A.R.S. § 32-1925; Board).
It is considered unprofessional conduct of a pharmacist or pharmacy intern to participate in an arrangement or agreement allowing a prescription order or medication to be left at, picked up from, or delivered to a place that is not a licensed pharmacy, except to the office or home of a medical practitioner or the residence of a patient or a patient's hospital (A.R.S. § 32-1901.01).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Excludes from acts constituting unprofessional conduct of a pharmacist or pharmacy intern the use of an employee or common carrier to deliver prescription orders or medications to, or pick up prescription orders or medications from, a long-term care facility, workplace or other patient-designated physical address where the patient or the patient’s designated agent is available to receive delivery, unless prohibited by federal law.
2. Allows pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to complete mandatory continuing professional education requirements after submitting a renewal application and paying the applicable renewal fee but requires completion before the license expires for that renewal cycle.
3. Requires the Board to update and maintain the license renewal application and renewal procedures.
4. Allows a business that holds a valid Board-issued permit to continue operating under the existing permit during a change of ownership while the new owner’s permit application is under review, if:
a) the new owner notifies the Board within seven calendar days after the effective date of the change in ownership and submits a permit application within thirty calendar days after the effective date of the change in ownership;
b) the business remains in compliance with all applicable statutes and rules;
c) the existing permit has not expired, been suspended or revoked; and
d) the new owner attests to assume responsibility for compliance with all regulatory requirements during the transition period.
5. Authorizes the Board to deny continued operation during a change of ownership if the Board determines:
a) the change in ownership presents a risk to public health or safety;
b) the new owner has failed to meet any requirement for continued operation; or
c) the Board has credible evidence of fraud, diversion or other conduct constituting grounds for permit denial.
6. Specifies that continued operation during a change of ownership automatically terminates on the earlier of:
a) the date the Board issues the new permit; or
b) the date the Board denies the permit application.
7. Subjects a business operating during a change of ownership to all inspections, reporting requirements and enforcement actions to the same extent as a permitted entity.
8. Prohibits the wholesale or distribution of a prescription drug or device, controlled substance, nonprescription drug, regulated chemical, medical gas or durable medical equipment without a valid Board-issued permit.
9. Makes technical and conforming changes.
10. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
HHS 2/19/26 DPA 12-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/26/26 52-0-8
Prepared by Senate Research
March 23, 2026
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