SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL NO. 14

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER BASUINO

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AP 14: CANADIAN PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

UNDER EXISTING LAW THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES IS CHARGED WITH SPECIFIED DUTIES AND POWERS RELATING TO PUBLIC HEALTH.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ESTABLISH A QUALITY PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT SAFE CANADIAN DRUGS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO SENIOR CITIZENS IN CALIFORNIA AT CANADIAN PRICES UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE PRICE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN CALIFORNIA BECOMES REASONABLE AND AFFORDABLE.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AP 14: RELATING TO CANADIAN PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

WHEREAS, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND BY SENIOR CITIZENS; AND WHEREAS, SENIOR CITIZENS AND THE NEEDY HAVE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND CAN LEAST AFFORD THE CURRENT AND ESCALATING COSTS OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS; AND

WHEREAS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE OFTEN FACED WITH THE CHOICE OF PURCHASING EITHER FOOD OR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS; AND

WHEREAS, THE CHOICE TO PURCHASE DRUGS OFTEN REQUIRES COMPROMISE WHERE, IN ORDER TO MAKE THE PRESCRIPTION LAST LONGER, THE SENIOR WILL INGEST ONLY A PORTION OF THE PRESCRIBED DOSAGE; AND

WHEREAS, IN ORDER FOR SENIORS TO SURVIVE, FUNCTION SOCIALLY, AND BE CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY AND THEIR FAMILIES, THIS PRACTICE OF INGESTING LESS THAN THE PRESCRIBED DOSAGE OF A PRESCRIPTION DRUG MUST BE DISCOURAGED; AND

WHEREAS, THE COST OF QUALITY PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IS PARAMOUNT TO A SENIOR CITIZEN; AND

WHEREAS, THE COST OF MANUFACTURING DRUGS IN THE UNITED STATES AND SPECIFICALLY IN CALIFORNIA IS ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF THE EVENTUAL SALES PRICE OF THE DRUGS; AND

WHEREAS, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE IN CALIFORNIA THAN IN CANADA; AND

WHEREAS, DESPITE THE LOWER COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN CANADA, SENIORS MUST ENDURE THE HIGH COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FROM CALIFORNIA; AND

WHEREAS, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT PRICE DIFFERENTIAL, SENATOR BURTON INTRODUCED SENATE BILL 1144, WHICH WOULD AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES TO CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FROM CANADIAN SOURCES, THEREBY SAVING THE STATE $20,000,000 TO $30,000,000 FOR MEDICATIONS THAT THE STATE PROVIDES TO INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING PENAL INSTITUTIONS; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2004 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT A QUALITY PROGRAM BE ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE TO ENSURE THAT SAFE CANADIAN DRUGS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO CALIFORNIA'S SENIOR CITIZENS AT CANADIAN PRICES; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE CANADIAN DRUG PURCHASE PROGRAM SHOULD REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL THE PRICE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN CALIFORNIA BECOMES REASONABLE AND AFFORDABLE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

RN0414864

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