(A)
This article does not require any person to serve as a collector in a stewardship
plan. A person may offer to serve as a collector voluntarily, or may agree to serve
as a collector in exchange for incentives or payment offered by a producer(s) or stewardship
organization.
(B)
The collection system for each stewardship plan shall:
(1)
Provide reasonably convenient and equitable access for all county residents in all
supervisorial districts through geographically distributed drop-off sites. At no time
shall there be less than five drop-off sites per County of Santa Barbara Supervisorial
District. If the service convenience goal in this section 18C-16(B)(1) cannot be achieved due to a lack of drop-off sites at retail pharmacies, law
enforcement agencies, or other qualified collectors throughout the county, then those
areas deficient of drop-off sites shall be served through periodic collection events
or mail-back services. Notwithstanding the requirements in this section 18C-16(B)(1), the director may permit a producer(s) selling or distributing a covered drug
to five or fewer county residents to provide mail-back services;
(2)
Be safe and secure, including providing for the prompt destruction of patient information
on any and all unwanted covered drug packaging;
(3)
Include as collectors, and give preference to, any retail pharmacy or any law enforcement
agency willing to serve voluntarily as a drop-off site for unwanted covered drugs
and able to meet the requirements of this article within three months of the collector(s)
offer to participate, unless the collector requests a longer time frame. A stewardship
plan may also accept other collectors willing to serve as a drop-off site for unwanted
covered drugs and able to meet the requirements of this article; and
(4)
Make mail-back services available, free of charge, to county residents upon request
through the stewardship plan's toll-free telephone number and website, and through
distribution of prepaid, preaddressed mailers to persons providing services to such
county residents. The toll-free telephone number and website required by this section 18C-16(B)(4) shall be in English, Spanish, and other languages as determined by the department.
In the event that more than one stewardship plan places a secure collection bin at
a drop-off site, then each secure collection bin must accept all unwanted covered
drugs.
(C)
In addition to the collection system described in section 18C-16(B)(1), all producers or stewardship organizations may jointly or individually operate
a drop-off site within each county-owned pharmacy or clinic.
(D)
Drop-off sites shall accept all unwanted covered drugs, during all hours that the
retail pharmacy, law enforcement agency, or other collector is normally open for business
with the public. Drop-off sites not operated by a law enforcement agency shall utilize
secure collection bins provided in accordance with an approved stewardship plan.
(E)
Stewardship plans shall describe how it will provide support to any law enforcement
agencies within the county that have, or later agree to have, a collection program
for unwanted covered drugs, including:
(1)
The provision of a secure collection bin with appropriate accessories and signage;
(2)
An ability to accept unwanted covered drugs;
(3)
Technical support up to and including an appropriate person to provide on-site assistance
with the sorting and separation of unwanted covered drugs at no cost to a participating
law enforcement agency.
(F)
Commercial and institutional establishments, including but not limited to hospitals,
clinics, and pharmacies, are responsible for proper disposal of its drug waste and
may not utilize any collection mechanism developed pursuant to this article or by
any public entity designed for use by, county residents.
