House Bill 679

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO CREATE THE "VICTORIA HUGGINS MISSISSIPPI PILL PRESS ACT OF 2022"; TO PROHIBIT ANY PERSON FROM UNAUTHORIZED POSSESSION AND TRANSFER OF PILL PRESSES AND SIMILAR DEVICES; TO REQUIRE THAT ALL PILL PRESSES OR SIMILAR DEVICES WHICH ARE USED TO MANUFACTURE A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE OR COUNTERFEIT CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE BE REGISTERED WITH THE STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY; TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. This act shall be known and referred to as the "Victoria Huggins Mississippi Pill Press Act of 2022."

SECTION 2. (1) Except as authorized by this article, it is unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally, unless authorized by the State Board of Pharmacy, or other lawful authority:

(a) To sell, barter, transfer, manufacture, distribute or possess a pill press, tableting machine, encapsulating machine, or gelatin capsule, or any equipment, which may be used to manufacture a controlled substance, knowing, intending, or having reasonable cause to believe, that it will be used to manufacture a controlled substance or counterfeit controlled substance.

(b) To create, sell, barter, transfer, distribute or possess with intent to create, sell, barter, transfer, distribute or dispense, a pill press, tableting machine, encapsulating machine, or gelatin capsule, or any equipment, which may be used to manufacture a controlled substance, knowing, intending, or having reasonable cause to believe, that it will be used to manufacture a controlled substance or counterfeit controlled substance.

(2) Any person who possesses a pill press, tableting machine, encapsulating machine, or similar equipment which is used, intended to be used, or designed to be used to manufacture a controlled substance or counterfeit controlled substance shall register such pill press, tableting machine, encapsulating machine, or similar equipment with the State Board of Pharmacy.

(3) Any person who violates this act shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction, shall be committed to the custody of the Department of Corrections for not more than five (5) years, or fined not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022, and shall stand repealed on June 30, 2022.