HB 7179 — AN ACT CONCERNING PHARMACEUTICAL MARKETING AND PHARMACEUTICALS.

Any person who is not licensed as a pharmacy and wishes to sell nonlegend drugs in a vending machine shall apply to the department, in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, in order to obtain a permit to sell nonlegend drugs.

Nonlegend drugs shall be labeled and packaged in accordance with state and federal law.

Public Act No.

25-171 4 of 11 House Bill No.

7179 (b) (1) A vending machine offering nonlegend drugs may also offer nonlegend devices or test strips intended for use by an individual to test for a particular substance prior to injection, inhalation or ingestion of the substance to prevent accidental overdose by injection, inhalation or ingestion of such substance.

Each vending machine offering nonlegend drugs or nonlegend devices shall be individually registered with the department,andeachapplicationtoregisteravendingmachineoffering nonlegend drugs or nonlegend devices shall designate an individual who shall be responsible for properly maintaining such vending machine.

(2) Each person who registers a vending machine pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, and the individual designated as the individual responsible for properly maintaining the registered vending machine, shall ensure that such vending machine (A) maintains the proper temperature and humidity for each nonlegend drug offered in such vending machine as required by the original manufacturer of such nonlegend drug, (B) only contains nonlegend drugs and nonlegend devices that remain in the original containers provided by the manufacturers of such nonlegend drugs or nonlegend devices, (C) only offers nonlegend drugs and nonlegend devices that are unexpired and unadulterated, (D) only offers nonlegend drugs and nonlegend devices that are not subject to a recall, provided any nonlegend drug or nonlegend device that is the subject of a recall shall be promptly removed from such vending machine, (E) only contains nonlegend drugs and nonlegend devices, sundries and other nonperishable items, (F) has a clear and conspicuous written statement attached to such vending machine disclosing the name, address and toll-free telephone number of the owner and operator of such vending machine, (G) has a clear and conspicuous written statement attached to such vending machine advising a consumer to check the expiration date of a nonlegend drug or nonlegend device contained in such vending machine before the consumer uses such nonlegend drug or nonlegend Public Act No.

25-171 5 of 11 House Bill No.

7179 device, (H) has attached to such vending machine, in a size and prominent location visible to consumers, a written notice stating "Drug tampering or expired product? Notify the Department of Consumer Protection, Drug Control Division, by calling (telephone number of the toll-free telephone line established by the department pursuant to section 21a-2)", (I) does not offer any nonlegend drug or nonlegend device that requires age verification, is subject to any quantity limit or is subject to any sales restriction under state or federal law, and (J) does not contain any package of a nonlegend drug that contains more than a five-day supply of the nonlegend drug as determined according to the usage directions provided by the manufacturer of such nonlegend drug.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, no person who solely distributes nonlegend naloxone to the public through a secure box, without compensation or consideration, shall be required to obtain a permit to sellnonlegenddrugspursuant to section20-624,asamended by this act, provided the secure box satisfies the requirements established in section 21a-286, as amended by this act.

As used in this subsection, "secure box" has the same meaning as provided in section 21a-286, as amended by this act.

[(c)] (d) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars per violation.

Sec.

4.

Section 20-624 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) Any person may apply to the [commission] department, in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, for a permit to sell nonlegend drugs.

(b) (1) The [commission] department may, in accordance with regulations adopted under sections 20-570 to 20-630, inclusive, in accordance with chapter 54, and on payment of the fee required in Public Act No.

25-171 6 of 11 House Bill No.

7179 section 20-601, issue to an applicant a permit to sell nonlegend drugs for one year.

(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (1) of this subsection, an applicant for a permit to sell nonlegend drugs shall not be required to pay any permit application or renewal fee required in section 20-601 if, as part of the applicant's application, the applicant attests that the applicant shall utilize such permit solely to distribute nonlegend drugs without compensation or consideration.

(c) A permit that has expired under this section may be renewed, on application and payment of the renewal fee and any late fee required in section 20-601 or 21a-4.

(d) The holder of a permit to sell nonlegend drugs shall [notify the commission] electronically submit to the department, in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, notification of a change of ownership, name or location of the [permit premises] permanent physical location.

Any holder who fails to notify the [commission] department of such change within five days of the change shall pay the late fee required in section 20-601.

[(e) Any nonlegend drug permit issued by the commission pursuant to this section is nontransferable.] Sec.

5.

Section 21a-286 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) For the purposes of this section:

(1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Consumer Protection;

(2) "Department" means the Department of Consumer Protection;

(3) "Host agency" means a community health organization, Public Act No.

25-171 7 of 11 House Bill No.

7179 emergency medical service provider, government agency, law enforcement agency or local or regional board of education;

(4) "Opioid antagonist" has the same meaning set forth in section 17a- 714a;

(5) "Prescribing practitioner" has the same meaning set forth in section 20-14c;

(6) "Pharmacist" has the same meaning set forth in section 20-609a;

(7) "Secure box" means a container that (A) is securely affixed in a public location, (B) can be accessed by individuals for public use, [(C) is temperature controlled or stored in an environment with temperature controls, (D) is tamper-resistant, (E) is equipped with an alarm capable of detecting and transmitting a signal when accessed by individuals, and (F) is equipped with an alarm capable of alerting first responders whenaccessed by individuals,unlessequipping thecontainer withsuch an alarm is commercially impracticable] and (C) displays any signage required by the department pursuant to subsection (g) of this section;

(8) "Secured machine" means a device that (A) restricts access to individuals participating in a syringe services program by utilizing a designated access number, personalized magnetic strip card or any other technology to identify such individuals for the purpose of providing access, and (B) is registered with the department in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner;

and (9) "Syringe services program" means a program that is (A) established or authorized pursuant to section 19a-124, and (B) approved by the department under section 21a-65.

(b) A prescribing practitioner, or a pharmacist who is certified to prescribe an opioid antagonist pursuant to section 20-633c, may enter into an agreement with a host agency related to the distribution and Public Act No.

25-171 8 of 11 House Bill No.

7179 administration of an opioid antagonist for the reversal of an opioid overdose.

The prescribing practitioner or pharmacist shall provide training to persons who will distribute or administer the opioid antagonist pursuant to the terms of the agreement.

Persons other than the prescribing practitioner or pharmacist shall receive training in the distributionor administrationofopioidantagonistsprior to distributing or administering an opioid antagonist.

The agreement shall address the storage, handling, labeling, recalls and recordkeeping of opioid antagonists by the host agency that is party to the agreement.

(c) (1) A prescribing practitioner, or a pharmacist who is certified to prescribe an opioid antagonist pursuant to section 20-633c, may enter intoanagreementwithahostagencytoprovideanintranasallyororally administered opioid antagonist, or permit a host agency to install on the host agency's premises a secure box containing an intranasally or orally administered opioid antagonist.

The agreement shall address the environmental controls necessary to store such opioid antagonist, establish procedures for replenishment of such opioid antagonist, establish a process for monitoring the expiration dates of such opioid antagonist and disposing of any expired opioid antagonist, and require that signs be posted disclosing the presence of such opioid antagonist, and usage directions for such opioid antagonist, in the language or languagesspokenin the community in which thesecure box isinstalled.

The secure box shall not contain an amount of the opioid antagonist that is greater than the amount necessary to serve the community in which such secure box is installed.

If the host agency is unable to maintain the secure box, or the supplies necessary to maintain the secure box are unavailable, such host agency shall remove such secure box, and all signs required under this subdivision concerning such secure box, as soon as practicable but in no event later than five days after such host agency discovers that such host agency is unable to maintain such secure box or the supplies necessary to maintain such secure box.

Public Act No.

25-171 9 of 11 House Bill No.

7179 (2) A prescribing practitioner, or a pharmacist who is certified to prescribe an opioid antagonist pursuant to section 20-633c, may enter into an agreement with a host agency to operate a vending machine for the purpose of distributing an opioid antagonist for nasal administration.

The vending machine shall be in a location that maintains a temperature that is at all times consistent with the manufacturer's package insert for the opioid antagonist, or have the ability to maintain an environment, independent of the external environment,thatisappropriatefortheopioidantagonistbasedonsuch package insert.

The following shall be clearly and conspicuously displayed on the outside of the vending machine, adjacent to the vendingmachineorupondistributionofanopioidantagonistcontained in such vending machine:

(A) Information concerning the signs and symptoms of an overdose;

(B) instructions for the use of the opioid antagonist;

(C) information about the services that are offered in this state to treat opioid use disorder;

and (D) an Internet web site address that contains, or a quick response code that directs an individual to an Internet web site that contains, information concerning the signs and symptoms of an overdose, overdose response and instructions for the use of the opioid antagonist.

(3) Nothing in subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection shall be construed to prohibit placement of an opioid antagonist in a container that also includes an automated external defibrillator or any other product used to treat a medical emergency.

(d) A prescribing practitioner, or a pharmacist who is certified to prescribe an opioid antagonist pursuant to section 20-633c, may enter into an agreement witha syringe services program to permit the syringe services program to include an opioid antagonist in such syringe services program's secured machine.

The agreement shall address the environmental controls necessary to store such opioid antagonist, establish procedures for replenishment of such opioid antagonist, Public Act No.

25-171 10 of 11 House Bill No.

7179 establish a process for monitoring the expiration dates of such opioid antagonist and disposing of any expired opioid antagonist, and require that signs be posted disclosing the presence of such opioid antagonist, and usage directions for such opioid antagonist, in the language or languages spoken in the community in which such secured machine is installed.

(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a secured machine from distributing a test strip intended for use by an individual prior to injection, inhalation or ingestion of a particular substance to prevent accidental overdose by injection, inhalation or ingestion of such substance.

(f) A prescribing practitioner or pharmacist who enters into an agreement pursuant to subsection (b), (c) or (d) of this section shall not be liable for damages in a civil action or subject to administrative or criminal prosecution for the administration or dispensing of an opioid antagonist by the host agency who is a party to such agreement.

(g) Each secure box shall display such signage as the department, in the department's discretion, deems necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this section and posts on the department's Internet web site.

[(g)] (h) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section.

Governor's Action:

Approved July 8, 2025 Public Act No.

25-171 11 of 11