§34-23-3. State drug inspectors.

Each state drug inspector employed by the board following the passage of this chapter must furnish satisfactory proof to the board that he or she is a person of good moral character and that in the judgment of the members of the board he or she has sufficient knowledge of the laws pertaining to the practice of pharmacy and law enforcement to enable him or her to carry out his or her duties as an inspector consistent with the provisions of this chapter. Each state drug inspector employed by the board shall serve an apprenticeship of a minimum of six months working with and under the supervision of the Chief Drug Inspector or other inspector designated by the board. Each such inspector, before entering upon his or her duties, shall post with the State Board of Pharmacy a bond in the amount of $2,000 conditioned upon the faithful performance of his or her duties. Each state drug inspector shall have the power to inspect the medicines and drugs or drug products or domestic remedies which are manufactured, packaged, packed, made, sold, offered for sale, exposed for sale, or kept for sale in this state, and for this purpose shall have the right to enter and inspect during business hours any pharmacy or any other place in this state where medicines or drugs or drug products or proprietary medicines are manufactured, packaged, packed, made, sold, offered for sale, or kept for sale, whether or not licensed by the State Board of Pharmacy. Each state drug inspector shall be subject to the same restrictions as other officers of the law in regard to search and seizure. They shall report to the board all violations of the laws relating to pharmacy and all rules and regulations of the board. As directed by the board, it shall be the duty of the state drug inspectors to issue citations for violations of such laws, rules, or regulations or institute criminal proceedings against persons for such violations. When authorized by the board and where there are specific complaints, the state drug inspector shall have the right to inspect all records, shipping tickets, or any other document pertaining to the transfer of drugs or drug preparations, from or to hospitals, pharmacists, wholesale establishments and manufacturers, or any other place or establishment where the preparations of drugs are kept or stored. They shall have the authority to inspect all prescription files, prescription record books, poison registers, exempt narcotic registers, and any other records pertaining to the filling and filing of prescriptions. It shall be the duty of the state drug inspector to take possession of all revoked and/or suspended licenses and permits when such licenses and permits are not surrendered voluntarily to the board by the person or pharmacist whose license or permit has been revoked or suspended. Nothing in this chapter shall authorize or require the state drug inspector or state drug inspectors to inspect the offices of doctors of medicine who have duly qualified with the State Board of Medical Examiners.

(Acts 1966, Ex. Sess., No. 205, p. 231, §7.)