Licensing Committee members on Oct. 15 discussed details of a new Pharmacy Technician Advisory Committee (PTAC) that AB 1503 requires the Board of Pharmacy to create.

The committee agreed on core elements of PTAC's composition: four licensed pharmacy technicians representing a range of practice settings, two licensed pharmacists (one must be a sitting board member), and one public member. Members suggested technician terms of four years, renewable once, and recommended the board prioritize appointing working technicians who represent varied practice settings and geographies.

Why it matters: AB 1503 (the board's sunset measure) requires the board to form an advisory committee to advise on technician matters. How the committee is appointed and staffed will shape whether it delivers practical, frontline guidance to the full board.

What the committee discussed
Members said PTAC should include technicians from diverse practice settings (community, health system, long‑term care and others) and recommended modest experience criteria (suggestions ranged from two to four years). Members rejected very long minimum-tenure thresholds as unnecessarily restrictive and voiced a preference for applicants who currently practice on the front lines.

The committee discussed how appointments should be made. The board president has statutory authority to appoint the pharmacist board member; the committee debated whether the president should appoint the remaining PTAC seats or whether appointments should be made in a public board meeting or by a small board selection panel. Committee members deferred a final decision to the full board but said they favored transparency and clear outreach to technician communities.

Public comment and stakeholder input
- The California Society of Health System Pharmacists (CSHP) told the committee it supported the advisory committee but recommended a substantial experience requirement; the committee said a 10‑year minimum was likely too high.
- The California Pharmacists Association (CPHA) asked the board to consider geographic diversity and practice setting representation when appointing members.
- Technician commenters urged that PTAC include technicians who perform expanded roles and recommended that the application and outreach process be straightforward and accessible.

Next steps
The committee asked staff to draft an application, outreach plan and proposed appointment process for board review, and to return with suggested term staggering so the committee retains institutional memory. No formal appointments were made at the meeting.

Clarifying details
- Statutory requirement: AB 1503 requires establishment of a five‑to‑seven member advisory committee focused on technicians; the committee discussed composition consistent with the statute.
- Suggested term length: 4 years, renewable once.

Proper names mentioned
California Society of Health System Pharmacists (CSHP); California Pharmacists Association (CPHA); Pharmacy Technician Advisory Committee (PTAC).

Committee decision
Direction to staff to prepare application materials, outreach plan and appointment options for the full board; no appointments were made at the Licensing Committee meeting.