Permits pharmacists to administer certain long-acting injectable drugs.

S3676

SENATE, No. 3676

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 24, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANTHONY M. BUCCO

District 25 (Morris and Passaic)

Senator� VIN GOPAL

District 11 (Monmouth)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senator Diegnan

SYNOPSIS

���� Permits pharmacists to administer certain long-acting
injectable drugs.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning pharmacists and long-acting injectable
drugs, and amending P.L.2003, c.280.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1. Section 24 of P.L.2003,
c.280 (C.45:14-63) is amended to read as follows:�����

���� 24. a. No pharmacist shall
administer a prescription medication directly to a patient without appropriate
education or certification, as determined by the board in accordance with the
requirements set forth in the rules jointly promulgated by the board and the
State Board of Medical Examiners.� Such medication shall only be for the
treatment of a disease for which a nationally certified program is in effect,
or as determined by the board, and only if utilized for the treatment of that
disease for which the medication is prescribed or indicated or for which the
collaborative drug therapy management permits.

���� b. (1) Notwithstanding any
law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a pharmacist, pharmacy intern, or
pharmacy extern may administer drugs to a patient 18 years of age or older,
provided the pharmacist, pharmacy intern, or pharmacy extern is appropriately
educated and qualified, as determined by the board in accordance with the
requirements set forth in the rules jointly promulgated by the board and the
State Board of Medical Examiners, and provided the drugs are administered under
any one of the following conditions:

���� (a)�� pursuant to a
prescription by an authorized prescriber for a vaccine and related emergency
medications;

���� (b)�� in immunization programs
implemented pursuant to an authorized prescriber's standing order for the
vaccine and related emergency medications; or

���� (c)�� in immunization programs
and programs sponsored by governmental agencies that are not patient specific.

���� (2)�� A pharmacist, pharmacy
intern, or pharmacy extern may administer an influenza vaccine to a patient who
is seven years of age or older.� For a patient who is under 18 years of age, a
pharmacist, pharmacy intern, or pharmacy extern shall not administer a vaccine
except with the permission of the patient's parent or legal guardian.� For a
patient who is under 10 years of age, a pharmacist, pharmacy intern, or
pharmacy extern shall not administer a vaccine unless pursuant to a
prescription by an authorized prescriber.� Nothing in this subsection shall be
construed to require a patient 10 years of age or older to obtain a
prescription for an influenza vaccine.

���� (3)�� A pharmacy intern or
pharmacy extern, as defined by regulation of the New Jersey State Board of
Pharmacy, may administer immunizations to patients by injection or by other
delivery method, provided that the pharmacy intern or pharmacy extern is acting
under the direct supervision of a licensed pharmacist who is pre-approved by
the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy to administer vaccines and related
emergency medications, and who is in compliance with the rules jointly
promulgated by the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy and the State Board of
Medical Examiners.

���� c.���� An immunization
administered to a patient by a pharmacist, pharmacy intern, or pharmacy extern
shall be reported by a supervising pharmacist to the New Jersey Immunization
Information System established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.2004, c.138
(C.26:4-134) as required pursuant to N.J.A.C.8:57-3.16, for inclusion in the
patient's registry.

����
d. (1) Notwithstanding any
law, order, rule, or regulation to the contrary, and pursuant to a prescription
issued by an authorized prescriber for a long-acting injectable drug, a
pharmacist may administer the long-acting injectable drug to the patient,
provided that the pharmacist is appropriately educated and qualified to
administer the drug, as determined by the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy,
and in accordance with requirements set forth in rules jointly promulgated by
the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy and the State Board of Medical Examiners.

����
(2) As used in subsection,
�long-acting injectable drug� means a medication approved by the United States
Food and Drug Administration that is injected into a patient to treat or manage
symptoms of a psychiatric condition or disorder, for up to 24 weeks with a
single dose.

(cf: P.L.2018, c.143, s.1)

���� 2. �This act shall take effect
immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill permits pharmacists
to administer certain long-acting injectable drugs.

���� The bill provides that,
pursuant to a prescription issued by an authorized prescriber for a long-acting
injectable drug, a pharmacist may administer the long-acting injectable drug to
the patient, provided that the pharmacist is appropriately educated and
qualified to administer the drug, as determined by the New Jersey State Board
of Pharmacy, and in accordance with requirements set forth in rules jointly
promulgated by the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy and the State Board of
Medical Examiners.

���� The bill defines �long-acting
injectable drug� to mean a medication approved by the United States Food and
Drug Administration that is injected into a patient to treat or manage symptoms
of a psychiatric condition or disorder, for up to 24 weeks with a single dose.