SF 1462

1st Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:21am

A bill for an act
relating to health; modifying isolation and quarantine provisions and provisions
for mass dispensing of medications; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections
144.4195, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 5; 144.4197; 145A.06, subdivision 7; 151.37,
subdivisions 2, 10; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
144.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144.4195, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:

Subdivision 1.

Ex parte order for isolation or quarantine.

(a) Before isolating
or quarantining a person or group of persons, the commissioner of health shall obtain a
written, ex parte order authorizing the isolation or quarantine from the District Court of
Ramsey County, the county where the person or group of persons is located, or a county
adjoining the county where the person or group of persons is located. The evidence or
testimony in support of an application may be made or taken by telephone, facsimile
transmission, video equipment, or other electronic communication. The court shall grant
the order upon a finding that probable cause exists to believe isolation or quarantine
is warranted to protect the public health.

(b) The order must state the specific facts justifying isolation or quarantine, must
state that the person being isolated or quarantined has a right to a court hearing under
this section and a right to be represented by counsel during any proceeding under this
section, and must be provided immediately to each person isolated or quarantined. The
commissioner of health shall provide a copy of the authorizing order to the commissioner
of public safety and other peace officers known to the commissioner to have jurisdiction
over the site of the isolation or quarantine. If feasible, the commissioner of health shall
give each person being isolated or quarantined an estimate of the expected period of the
person's isolation or quarantine.

(c) If it is impracticable to provide individual orders to a group of persons isolated or
quarantined, one order shall suffice to isolate or quarantine a group of persons believed to
have been commonly infected with or exposed to a communicable disease. A copy of the
order and notice shall be posted in a conspicuous place:

(1) in the isolation or quarantine premises, but only if the persons to be isolated or
quarantined are already at the isolation or quarantine premises and have adequate access
to the order posted there; or

(2) in another location where the group of persons to be isolated or quarantined is
located, such that the persons have adequate access to the order posted there.

If the court determines that posting the order according to clause (1) or (2) is impractical
due to the number of persons to be isolated or quarantined or the geographical area
affected, the court must use the best means available to ensure that the affected persons
are fully informed of the order and notice.

(d) Any peace officer, as defined in section 144.4803, subdivision 16, may use force
as described by sections 609.06 and 609.066 to apprehend, hold, transport, quarantine,
or isolate a person subject to the order if the person flees or forcibly resists the officer.
This subdivision is authority to carry out enforcement duties under this section. The
commissioner or an agent of a local board of health authorized under section 145A.04
shall advise the peace officer on request of protective measures recommended to protect
the officer from possible transmission of the communicable disease. The peace officer
may act upon telephone, facsimile, or other electronic notification of the order from the
court, commissioner of health, agent of a local board of health, or commissioner of public
safety. deleted text begin This paragraph expires August 1, 2009.
deleted text end

(e) No person may be isolated or quarantined pursuant to an order issued under
this subdivision for longer than 21 days without a court hearing under subdivision 3 to
determine whether isolation or quarantine should continue. A person who is isolated
or quarantined may request a court hearing under subdivision 3 at any time before the
expiration of the order.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144.4195, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Temporary hold upon commissioner's directive.

(a) Notwithstanding
subdivision 1, the commissioner of health may by directive isolate or quarantine a person
or group of persons without first obtaining a written, ex parte order from the court if a
delay in isolating or quarantining the person or group of persons would significantly
jeopardize the commissioner of health's ability to prevent or limit the transmission of
a communicable or potentially communicable life-threatening disease to others. The
directive shall specify the known period of incubation or communicability or the estimated
period under the commissioner's best medical judgment when the disease is unknown. The
directive remains in effect for the period specified unless amended by the commissioner
or superseded by a court order. The commissioner must provide the person or group of
persons subject to the temporary hold with notice that the person has a right to request
a court hearing under this section and a right to be represented by counsel during a
proceeding under this section. If it is impracticable to provide individual notice to each
person subject to the temporary hold, notice of these rights may be posted in the same
manner as the posting of orders under subdivision 1, paragraph (c). Immediately upon
executing the directive and initiating notice of the parties subject to it, the commissioner
shall initiate the process to apply for a written, ex parte order pursuant to subdivision 1
authorizing the isolation or quarantine. The court must rule within 24 hours of receipt of
the application or sooner if practicable or necessary. If the person is under a temporary
hold, the person may not be held in isolation or quarantine after the temporary hold expires
unless the court issues an ex parte order under subdivision 1. If the court does not rule
within 36 hours after the execution of the directive, the directive shall expire.

(b) At the same time the commissioner initiates the process to apply for a written, ex
parte order under paragraph (a), the commissioner shall notify the governor, the majority
and minority leaders of the senate, the speaker and majority and minority leaders of the
house of representatives, and the chairs and the ranking minority members of the senate
and house of representatives committees having jurisdiction over health policy that a
directive for a temporary hold has been issued under this subdivision. Notice under this
paragraph is governed by the data privacy provisions of subdivision 6.

(c) Any peace officer, as defined in section 144.4803, subdivision 16, deleted text begin may assist
a public health official to apprehend, hold, transport, quarantine, or isolate a person
subject to the commissioner's directive. The peace officer deleted text end may use force as described by
sections 609.06 and 609.066 new text begin to apprehend, hold, transport, quarantine, or isolate a person
subject to the directive if the person flees or forcibly resists the officer. This subdivision
is authority to carry out enforcement duties under this section new text end . The commissioner or an
agent of a local board of health authorized under section 145A.04 shall advise the peace
officer on request of protective measures recommended to protect the officer from possible
transmission of the communicable disease. The peace officer may act upon telephone,
facsimile, or other electronic notification of the commissioner's directive or upon the
request of an agent of a local board of health.

(d) If a person subject to a commissioner's directive under paragraph (a) is already
institutionalized in an appropriate health care facility, the commissioner of health may
direct the facility to continue to hold the person. The facility shall take all reasonable
measures to prevent the person from exposing others to the communicable disease.

deleted text begin (e) This subdivision expires August 1, 2009.
deleted text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144.4195, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Court hearing.

(a) A person isolated or quarantined under an order
issued pursuant to subdivision 1 or a temporary hold under subdivision 2 or the person's
representative may petition the court to contest the court order or temporary hold at any
time prior to the expiration of the order or temporary hold. If a petition is filed, the court
must hold a hearing within 72 hours from the date of the filing. A petition for a hearing
does not stay the order of isolation or quarantine. At the hearing, the commissioner of
health must show by clear and convincing evidence that the isolation or quarantine is
warranted to protect the public health.

(b) If the commissioner of health wishes to extend the order for isolation or
quarantine past the period of time stated in subdivision 1, paragraph (d), the commissioner
must petition the court to do so. Notice of the hearing must be served upon the person
or persons who are being isolated or quarantined at least three days before the hearing.
If it is impracticable to provide individual notice to large groups who are isolated or
quarantined, a copy of the notice may be posted in the same manner as described under
subdivision 1, paragraph (c).

(c) The notice must contain the following information:

(1) the time, date, and place of the hearing;

(2) the grounds and underlying facts upon which continued isolation or quarantine
is sought;

(3) the person's right to appear at the hearing; and

(4) the person's right to counsel, including the right deleted text begin , if indigent, deleted text end to be represented by
counsel designated by the court or county of venue.

(d) The court may order the continued isolation or quarantine of the person or group
of persons if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person or persons would
pose an imminent health threat to others if isolation or quarantine was lifted. In no case
may the isolation or quarantine continue longer than 30 days from the date of the court
order issued under this subdivision unless the commissioner petitions the court for an
extension. Any hearing to extend an order is governed by this subdivision.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144.4195, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Judicial procedures and decisions.

(a) Court orders issued pursuant to
subdivision 3 or 4 shall be based upon clear and convincing evidence and a written record
of the disposition of the case shall be made and retained.

(b) Any person subject to isolation or quarantine has the right to be represented by
counsel. Persons not otherwise represented may request the court to appoint counsel at the
expense of the Department of Health or of a local public health board that has entered
into a written delegation agreement with the commissioner under subdivision 7. The court
shall appoint counsel when so requested and may have one counsel represent a group
of persons similarly situated. The appointments shall be only for representation under
subdivisions 3 and 4 and for appeals of orders under subdivisions 3 and 4. On counsel's
request, the commissioner or an agent of a local board of health authorized under section
145A.04 shall advise counsel of protective measures recommended to protect counsel
from possible transmission of the communicable disease. Appointments shall be made
and counsel compensated according to procedures developed by the Supreme Court.
new text begin The Supreme Court shall also develop procedures for compensating language interpreters
and medical experts reasonably necessary to defense preparations. new text end The procedures shall
provide standards for determining indigency for purposes of appeal. A person seeking
an appeal who does not meet the indigency standard deleted text begin may deleted text end new text begin must new text end , upon motion by the
commissioner of health or local public health board and subsequent court order, reimburse
the Department of Health or local public health board for the attorney fees and costs
incurred in the person's appeal. Counsel appointed for a respondent must be allowed to
withdraw from representation and is not required to pursue an appeal if, in the opinion of
counsel, there is insufficient basis for proceeding.

(c) The court may choose to conduct a hearing under subdivision 3 or 4 by
telephonic, interactive video, or other electronic means to maintain isolation or quarantine
precautions and reduce the risk of spread of a communicable disease. Otherwise, the
manner in which the request for a hearing is filed and acted upon shall be in accordance
with the existing laws and rules of the courts of this state or, if the isolation or quarantine
occurs during a national security or peacetime emergency, any rules that are developed by
the courts for use during a national security or peacetime emergency.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 144.4197, is amended to read:

144.4197 EMERGENCY VACCINE ADMINISTRATION; LEGEND DRUG.

deleted text begin (a) deleted text end When a mayor, county board chair, or legal successor to such official has declared
a local emergency under section 12.29 or the governor has declared an emergency
under section 12.31, subdivision 1 or 2, new text begin or a local board of health or its appointed agent
under chapter 145A has requested the commissioner's assistance in response to an event
threatening public health in its jurisdiction, new text end the commissioner of health may authorize any
person, including, but not limited to, any person licensed or otherwise credentialed under
chapters 144E, 147 to 148, 150A, 151, 153, or 156, to administer vaccinations or dispense
legend drugs if the commissioner determines that such action is necessary to protect the
health and safety of the public. The authorization shall be in writing and shall contain the
categories of persons included in the authorization, any additional training required before
performance of the vaccination or drug dispensing by such persons, any supervision
required for performance of the vaccination or drug dispensing, and the duration of the
authorization. The commissioner may, in writing, extend the scope and duration of the
authorization as the emergency warrants. Any person authorized by the commissioner
under this section shall not be subject to criminal liability, administrative penalty,
professional discipline, or other administrative sanction for good faith performance of the
vaccination or drug dispensing duties assigned according to this section.

deleted text begin (b) This section expires August 1, 2009.
deleted text end

Sec. 6.

new text begin [144.4198] MASS DISPENSING UNDER AUTHORITY OF
COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin "Closed point of dispensing (POD)" means a dispensing
or vaccinating location, including but not limited to a business, nonprofit, governmental,
correctional, educational, health care, religious, or other entity that dispenses to a limited
group such as employees and their household members, residents, business guests,
students, or inmates. A closed POD is not open to the public.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Alternative and expedited mass dispensing. new text end

new text begin (a) When the commissioner
of health has determined that a pandemic influenza, other life-threatening disease, or
terrorist, accidental, or natural event requires urgent treatment or prophylactic measures,
the commissioner may designate persons and entities to expedite legend drug dispensing,
by means of any of the methods in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d), or any method the
commissioner deems warranted.
new text end

new text begin (b) Legend drugs may be distributed and dispensed to a household representative by
the commissioner, or by a local public health or tribal public health agency authorized by
the commissioner. The household representative shall convey medical information and
distribute legend drugs to individuals who have entrusted the household representative
with drug collection responsibilities. Each household representative must meet medical
protocol criteria established by the commissioner. The household representative may
be a mature minor who appears able to understand and carry out the responsibility of
legend drug distribution.
new text end

new text begin (c) Legend drugs from the United States Department of Health and Human Services,
from state or regional pharmaceutical caches, or from other sources available to the
commissioner may be distributed by United States Postal Service postal carriers to
residences designated by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (d) Legend drugs may be dispensed or administered via the closed POD according
to a plan approved by the commissioner, or by local or tribal public health agencies,
following the medical protocol criteria established by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (e) The methods in this subdivision shall be carried out under the commissioner's
powers in section 151.37, subdivisions 2 and 10.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Liability protections for closed POD's. new text end

new text begin A person, corporation, charitable
organization, government entity, religious entity, nonprofit entity, or other legal entity, or
an employee or agent of the person, corporation, charitable organization, or entity, who,
during the preparation for and setup, operation, and demobilization of a closed POD, acts
in good faith and under the direction of a closed POD plan that has been approved by
the commissioner of health, local public health agency, or tribal public health authority,
shall not be liable for civil damages or administrative sanctions for causing the death or
injury of a person, or for damage to property. This section does not apply in case of
malfeasance or willful or wanton actions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Continuing benefits. new text end

new text begin This section does not affect the right of any person
to receive benefits to which the person otherwise would be entitled under the workers'
compensation law or under any pension law, nor does it affect entitlement to any other
benefits or compensation authorized by state law. This section does not affect the right
of any person to receive benefits to which the person would otherwise be entitled under
federal law, including, but not limited to, the injury compensation fund under the Public
Readiness and Preparedness Act, United States Code, title 42, section 247d-6e.
new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 145A.06, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

deleted text begin Requests to deleted text end Commissioner new text begin requests new text end for health volunteers.

(a) When the
commissioner receives a request for health volunteers from:

(1) a local board of health according to section 145A.04, subdivision 6c;

(2) the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center;

(3) another state or a territory through the Interstate Emergency Management
Assistance Compact authorized under section 192.89;

(4) the federal government through ESAR-VHP or another similar program; or

(5) a tribal or Canadian government;

the commissioner shall determine if deployment of Minnesota Responds Medical Reserve
Corps volunteers from outside the requesting jurisdiction is in the public interest. If so,
the commissioner may ask for Minnesota Responds Medical Reserve Corps volunteers to
respond to the request. new text begin The commissioner may also ask for Minnesota Responds Medical
Reserve Corps volunteers if the commissioner finds that the state needs health volunteers.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner may request Minnesota Responds Medical Reserve Corps
volunteers to work on the Minnesota Mobile Medical Unit (MMU), or on other mobile
or temporary units providing emergency patient stabilization, medical transport, or
ambulatory care. The commissioner may utilize the volunteers for training, mobilization
or demobilization, inspection, maintenance, repair, or other support functions for the
MMU facility or for other emergency units, as well as for provision of health care services.
new text end

new text begin (c) A volunteer's rights and benefits under this chapter as a Minnesota Responds
Medical Reserve Corps volunteer must not be affected by any vacation leave, pay, or other
compensation provided by the volunteer's employer during volunteer service requested by
the commissioner. An employer is not liable for actions of an employee while serving as a
Minnesota Responds Medical Reserve Corps volunteer.
new text end

deleted text begin (b) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end If the commissioner matches the request under paragraph (a) with Minnesota
Responds Medical Reserve Corps volunteers, the commissioner shall facilitate deployment
of the volunteers from the sending Minnesota Responds Medical Reserve Corps units to
the receiving jurisdiction. The commissioner shall track volunteer deployments and assist
sending and receiving jurisdictions in monitoring deployments, and shall coordinate
efforts with the division of homeland security and emergency management for out-of-state
deployments through the Interstate Emergency Management Assistance Compact or
other emergency management compacts.

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end Where the commissioner has deployed Minnesota Responds Medical
Reserve Corps volunteers within or outside the state, the provisions of paragraphs
deleted text begin (d) to (e) deleted text end new text begin (f) and (g) new text end must apply. Where Minnesota Responds Medical Reserve Corps
volunteers were deployed across jurisdictions by mutual aid or similar agreements prior
to a commissioner's call, the provisions of paragraphs deleted text begin (d) to (e) deleted text end new text begin (f) and (g) new text end must apply
retroactively to volunteers deployed as of their initial deployment in response to the event
or emergency that triggered a subsequent commissioner's call.

deleted text begin (d) deleted text end new text begin (f) new text end (1) A Minnesota Responds Medical Reserve Corps volunteer responding to a
request for assistance at the call of the commissioner must be deemed an employee of the
state for purposes of workers' compensation and tort claim defense and indemnification new text begin
under section 3.736 new text end , without regard to whether the volunteer's activity is under the
direction and control of the commissioner, the division of homeland security and
emergency management, the sending jurisdiction, the receiving jurisdiction, or of a
hospital, alternate care site, or other health care provider treating patients from the public
health event or emergency.

(2) For purposes of calculating workers' compensation benefits under chapter
176, the daily wage must be the usual wage paid at the time of injury or death for
similar services performed by paid employees in the community where the volunteer
regularly resides, or the wage paid to the volunteer in the volunteer's regular employment,
whichever is greater.

deleted text begin (e) deleted text end new text begin (g) new text end The Minnesota Responds Medical Reserve Corps volunteer must receive
reimbursement for travel and subsistence expenses during a deployment approved by the
commissioner under this subdivision according to reimbursement limits established for
paid state employees. Deployment begins when the volunteer leaves on the deployment
until the volunteer returns from the deployment, including all travel related to the
deployment. The Department of Health shall initially review and pay those expenses to
the volunteer. Except as otherwise provided by the Interstate Emergency Management
Assistance Compact in section 192.89 or agreements made thereunder, the department
shall bill the jurisdiction receiving assistance and that jurisdiction shall reimburse the
department for expenses of the volunteers.

deleted text begin (f) deleted text end new text begin (h) new text end In the event Minnesota Responds Medical Reserve Corps volunteers are
deployed outside the state pursuant to the Interstate Emergency Management Assistance
Compact, the provisions of the Interstate Emergency Management Assistance Compact
must control over any inconsistent provisions in this section.

deleted text begin (g) deleted text end new text begin (i) new text end When a Minnesota Responds Medical Reserve Corps volunteer makes a claim
for workers' compensation arising out of a deployment under this section or out of a
training exercise conducted by the commissioner, the volunteer's workers compensation
benefits must be determined under section 176.011, subdivision 9, clause (25), even if the
volunteer may also qualify under other clauses of section 176.011, subdivision 9.

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 151.37, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Prescribing and filing.

(a) A licensed practitioner in the course of
professional practice only, may prescribe, administer, and dispense a legend drug, and may
cause the same to be administered by a nurse, a physician assistant, or medical student or
resident under the practitioner's direction and supervision, and may cause a person who
is an appropriately certified, registered, or licensed health care professional to prescribe,
dispense, and administer the same within the expressed legal scope of the person's practice
as defined in Minnesota Statutes. A licensed practitioner may prescribe a legend drug,
without reference to a specific patient, by directing a nurse, pursuant to section 148.235,
subdivisions 8 and 9, physician assistant, or medical student or resident to adhere to
a particular practice guideline or protocol when treating patients whose condition falls
within such guideline or protocol, and when such guideline or protocol specifies the
circumstances under which the legend drug is to be prescribed and administered. An
individual who verbally, electronically, or otherwise transmits a written, oral, or electronic
order, as an agent of a prescriber, shall not be deemed to have prescribed the legend drug.
This paragraph applies to a physician assistant only if the physician assistant meets the
requirements of section 147A.18.

new text begin (b) The commissioner of health, if a licensed practitioner, or a person designated
by the commissioner who is a licensed practitioner, may prescribe a legend drug to an
individual or by protocol for mass dispensing purposes where the commissioner finds that
the conditions triggering section 144.4197 or 144.4198, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), exist.
The commissioner, if a licensed practitioner, or a designated licensed practitioner, may also
prescribe, dispense, or administer a legend drug or other substance listed in subdivision
10 to control tuberculosis and other communicable diseases. The commissioner has
discretion to modify state drug labeling requirements, and medical screening criteria and
documentation, where time is critical and limited labeling and screening are most likely to
ensure legend drugs reach the maximum number of persons in a timely fashion so as to
reduce morbidity and mortality.
new text end

deleted text begin (b) deleted text end new text begin (c) new text end A licensed practitioner that dispenses for profit a legend drug that is to be
administered orally, is ordinarily dispensed by a pharmacist, and is not a vaccine, must
file with the practitioner's licensing board a statement indicating that the practitioner
dispenses legend drugs for profit, the general circumstances under which the practitioner
dispenses for profit, and the types of legend drugs generally dispensed. It is unlawful to
dispense legend drugs for profit after July 31, 1990, unless the statement has been filed
with the appropriate licensing board. For purposes of this paragraph, "profit" means (1)
any amount received by the practitioner in excess of the acquisition cost of a legend drug
for legend drugs that are purchased in prepackaged form, or (2) any amount received
by the practitioner in excess of the acquisition cost of a legend drug plus the cost of
making the drug available if the legend drug requires compounding, packaging, or other
treatment. The statement filed under this paragraph is public data under section 13.03.
This paragraph does not apply to a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine or a registered
pharmacist. Any person other than a licensed practitioner with the authority to prescribe,
dispense, and administer a legend drug under paragraph (a) shall not dispense for profit.
To dispense for profit does not include dispensing by a community health clinic when the
profit from dispensing is used to meet operating expenses.

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end A prescription or drug order for the following drugs is not valid, unless it can
be established that the prescription or order was based on a documented patient evaluation,
including an examination, adequate to establish a diagnosis and identify underlying
conditions and contraindications to treatment:

(1) controlled substance drugs listed in section 152.02, subdivisions 3 to 5;

(2) drugs defined by the Board of Pharmacy as controlled substances under section
152.02, subdivisions 7, 8, and 12;

(3) muscle relaxants;

(4) centrally acting analgesics with opioid activity;

(5) drugs containing butalbital; or

(6) phoshodiesterase type 5 inhibitors when used to treat erectile dysfunction.

deleted text begin (d) deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end For the purposes of paragraph deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end , the requirement for an examination
shall be met if an in-person examination has been completed in any of the following
circumstances:

(1) the prescribing practitioner examines the patient at the time the prescription
or drug order is issued;

(2) the prescribing practitioner has performed a prior examination of the patient;

(3) another prescribing practitioner practicing within the same group or clinic as the
prescribing practitioner has examined the patient;

(4) a consulting practitioner to whom the prescribing practitioner has referred the
patient has examined the patient; or

(5) the referring practitioner has performed an examination in the case of a
consultant practitioner issuing a prescription or drug order when providing services by
means of telemedicine.

deleted text begin (e) deleted text end new text begin (f) new text end Nothing in paragraph deleted text begin (c) or deleted text end (d) new text begin or (e) new text end prohibits a licensed practitioner from
prescribing a drug through the use of a guideline or protocol pursuant to paragraph (a).

deleted text begin (f) deleted text end new text begin (g) new text end Nothing in this chapter prohibits a licensed practitioner from issuing a
prescription or dispensing a legend drug in accordance with the Expedited Partner Therapy
in the Management of Sexually Transmitted Diseases guidance document issued by the
United States Centers for Disease Control.

deleted text begin (g) deleted text end new text begin (h) new text end Nothing in paragraph deleted text begin (c) or deleted text end (d) new text begin or (e) new text end limits prescription, administration, or
dispensing of legend drugs through a public health clinic or other distribution mechanism
approved by the commissioner of health or a board of health in order to prevent, mitigate,
or treat a pandemic illness, infectious disease outbreak, or intentional or accidental release
of a biological, chemical, or radiological agent.

deleted text begin (h) deleted text end new text begin (i) new text end No pharmacist employed by, under contract to, or working for a pharmacy
licensed under section 151.19, subdivision 1, may dispense a legend drug based on a
prescription that the pharmacist knows, or would reasonably be expected to know, is
not valid under paragraph deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end .

deleted text begin (i) deleted text end new text begin (j) new text end No pharmacist employed by, under contract to, or working for a pharmacy
licensed under section 151.19, subdivision 2, may dispense a legend drug to a resident
of this state based on a prescription that the pharmacist knows, or would reasonably be
expected to know, is not valid under paragraph deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end .

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 151.37, subdivision 10, is amended to read:

Subd. 10.

Purchase of drugs deleted text begin for communicable diseases deleted text end new text begin and other agents by
commissioner of health new text end .

The commissioner of health, in new text begin preparation for and in new text end carrying
out the duties of deleted text begin section deleted text end new text begin sections new text end 144.05, new text begin 144.4197, and 144.4198 new text end may purchase new text begin , store, new text end and
distribute antituberculosis drugs, biologics, deleted text begin and deleted text end vaccines new text begin , antitoxins, serums, immunizing
agents, antibiotics, antivirals, antidotes, other pharmaceutical agents, and medical supplies new text end
to treat and prevent communicable disease.