Senate Bill 2661

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-21-79, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE BOARD OF PHARMACY OR ANY PHARMACIST-INSPECTOR FROM HAVING A DIRECT OR INDIRECT INTEREST IN THE OPERATION OF A PHARMACY IN MISSISSIPPI; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 73-21-79, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

73-21-79. (1) The board shall employ an executive director of the board. The executive director shall be a citizen of Mississippi and a pharmacist licensed and in good standing to practice pharmacy in the State of Mississippi, who has had five (5) years' experience as a pharmacist.

(2) The executive director shall receive a salary to be set by the board, subject to the approval of the State Personnel Board, and shall be entitled to necessary expenses incurred in the performance of his official duties. He shall devote full time to the duties of his office and shall not be interested directly or indirectly as defined in Section 73-21-73 in the operation of a pharmacy in Mississippi or any other facility permitted by the board or engaged in any other business that will interfere with the duties of his office.

(3) The duties and responsibilities of the executive director shall be defined by rules and regulations prescribed by the board.

(4) The board may, in its discretion, employ persons in addition to the executive director in such other positions or capacities as it deems necessary to the proper conduct of board business. Any pharmacist-investigator employed by the board shall not be interested directly or indirectly as defined in Section 73-21-73 in the operation of a pharmacy in Mississippi or any other facility permitted by the board or engage in any other business that will interfere with his pharmacist-investigator duties. The board may employ legal counsel to assist in the conduct of its business.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.