The House Health Care Committee took public testimony on House Bill 1009, which would change membership requirements for the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission to permit one seat to be filled by an owner, operator or officer of a pharmacy who may not be a pharmacist.

Jim Morishima, staff to the committee, briefed members that current state law specifies the commission’s composition: 15 members consisting of 10 pharmacists, four public members and one pharmacy technician, with public members prohibited from being affiliated with pharmacy operations. HB 1009 does not increase commission size but converts one pharmacist position into a seat that may be filled by a pharmacist or by an owner, operator or officer of a pharmacy.

Rep. [first name not specified] Lowe, the bill’s prime sponsor, told the committee the change would allow non-pharmacist owners to offer a perspective currently excluded by statute. “Members of this missed non pharmacist owner operator officer group offer a very important unrepresented perspective on the duties of the commission,” the sponsor said, and argued that expanding eligibility would improve participation on the commission.

Didi Little, director of government affairs for the Washington State Pharmacy Association, testified in support and said the association includes non-pharmacist owners who are active in the profession and would bring useful perspectives to commission deliberations.

Rick Hughes, owner of Ray’s Pharmacy on Orcas Island, testified remotely that he applied to serve on the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission and was told he was ineligible because he is not a pharmacist. Hughes described his pharmacy’s pandemic response work and asked the committee to allow small-business owners to be eligible for appointment to the commission.

No committee vote occurred during the hearing. Committee staff recorded proponent sign-ins and in-person testimony; the bill remains in committee for further consideration.

Ending: The committee closed public testimony on HB 1009; no action was taken at the hearing.