AR SB502

Wholesale distributors of controlled substances must provide annual education to customers about controlled substance programs, suspicious activities, and procedures for limiting or terminating eligibility before restricting sales.

Distributors must interview the pharmacist-in-charge and permit holder by telephone, videoconference, or in person, and conduct onsite inspections within 14 days before issuing termination notices, with the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy notified in advance.

Customers must receive minimum 5 business days' notice of policy violations and an additional 5 business days to respond before eligibility is limited or terminated, with the distributor required to review responses and gather relevant information before making final decisions.

Customers in good standing with the board must receive minimum 15 days' notice before termination, and distributors must publish permanent terminations in local news outlets; third-party compliance consultants used by distributors must be board-approved.

Violations of these requirements constitute a subchapter violation subject to minimum $10,000 fines per violation and potential probation or license revocation; the bill declares an emergency and becomes effective upon Governor approval.