A BILL to amend and reenact § 54.1-3305 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Board of Pharmacy; membership; registered pharmacy technician.
HB1052 would amend Virginia law governing the Board of Pharmacy by expanding the board from 10 to 11 members and adding one registered pharmacy technician as a voting member. The bill keeps the existing structure of eight licensed pharmacists and two nonlegislative citizen members, while also retaining the current four-year terms, meeting requirements, quorum rules, and officer selection provisions. It also makes a minor wording change from “chairman” to “chair.”
In practical terms, the bill would give pharmacy technicians direct representation on the state board that regulates pharmacy practice, licensing, and related professional standards. Because the Board of Pharmacy oversees rules and decisions affecting pharmacists, technicians, pharmacies, and the public, adding a technician member would broaden the range of professional perspectives involved in board governance. The bill does not otherwise change the board’s powers or the executive director requirement.
The bill would amend § 54.1-3305 of the Code of Virginia to increase the Board of Pharmacy’s membership by one and formally include a registered pharmacy technician among its members. This would affect the composition of the regulatory board responsible for pharmacy oversight in Virginia, potentially influencing rulemaking, licensing, and disciplinary decisions. The measure would also make a conforming gender-neutral terminology change from “chairman” to “chair.”
The available legislative history suggests the bill did not generate enough support to pass the House, as it was defeated on third reading by a vote of 34-63 with no abstentions. That outcome indicates the proposal had meaningful support but faced substantial opposition overall. No committee transcript is available, so the specific arguments for and against the bill are not documented in the provided materials.
The main point of contention appears to have been whether a registered pharmacy technician should be added as a voting member of the Board of Pharmacy. Supporters likely viewed the change as improving representation for pharmacy support staff and bringing practical workplace experience to the board, while opponents may have questioned altering the board’s professional composition or expanding membership. Because no committee discussion transcript is provided, the precise objections and sponsors’ arguments cannot be confirmed from the record here.