S.B. No. 1263 establishes a pilot program in Texas for the safe disposal of prescription drugs, including controlled substances. The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to define key terms such as "collection receptacle," "commission," and "department," while removing references to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy. The program will be administered by the Department of State Health Services, which will develop rules to increase the number of collection receptacles for unused, unwanted, or expired prescription drugs across the state. Pharmacies can apply to participate in the program if they meet specific eligibility criteria, including being registered as authorized drug collection sites with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

The bill also outlines the responsibilities of participating pharmacies, including daily management and recordkeeping of the disposal program. The Department will assist pharmacies by covering costs associated with maintaining collection receptacles and incinerating collected drugs. Additionally, the Department is tasked with community outreach to educate the public about safe disposal options. A report summarizing the pilot program's results, including the number of collection receptacles and the amount of drugs collected, will be submitted to the governor and legislature every two years. The program is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 1317.40 (Health and Safety Code 1317)
Senate Committee Report: Health and Safety Code 1317.40 (Health and Safety Code 1317)
Engrossed: Health and Safety Code 1317.40 (Health and Safety Code 1317)
House Committee Report: Health and Safety Code 1317.40 (Health and Safety Code 1317)