§34-38-2. Promotion of early treatment, etc., of individuals impaired by illness, inebriation, etc.; Alabama Impaired Professionals' Committee; expenses; competitive bidding not required.

It shall be the duty and obligation of the State Board of Dental Examiners and the State Board of Pharmacy to promote the early identification, intervention, treatment, and rehabilitation of individuals within the respective jurisdiction, licensed to practice in the State of Alabama, who may be impaired by reason of illness, inebriation, excessive use of drugs, narcotics, controlled substances, alcohol, chemicals, or other dependent forming substances, or as a result of any physical or mental condition rendering such person unable to meet the standards of his or her profession. For the purposes of this chapter, the term "impaired" shall mean the inability of a dentist, hygienist, expanded duty dental assistant, or pharmacist to practice with reasonable skill and safety to patients by reason of illness, inebriation, excessive use of drugs, narcotics, controlled substances, alcohol, chemicals, or other dependent forming substances, or as a result of any physical or mental condition rendering such person unable to meet the standards of his or her profession. In order to carry out this obligation, each board, individually or jointly, is hereby empowered to contract with any nonprofit corporation, health provider, or professional association for the purpose of creating, supporting, and maintaining a committee of professionals to be designated the Alabama Impaired Professionals' Committee. The committee shall consist of not less than three nor more than 15 professionals licensed to practice dentistry or pharmacy in the State of Alabama, and selected in a manner prescribed by the board or boards. The authority of the Alabama Impaired Professionals' Committee shall not supersede the authority of the board or boards to take disciplinary action against individuals subject to this chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall limit the power and authority of the board or boards to discipline an impaired individual subject to its jurisdiction; provided that where an individual is impaired and currently in need of intervention, treatment, or rehabilitation and such individual is currently participating in programs or rehabilitation recommended by the committee, then in its discretion, the board or boards may refrain from taking or continuing disciplinary action against such individual; and further provided that where the board or boards, upon reasonable cause to believe an individual subject to its jurisdiction is impaired, has referred such individual to the committee for evaluation, then in its discretion, the board or boards may refrain from taking or continuing disciplinary action against such individual. The board, or boards, may collect or expend such funds as are available to it as deemed necessary to adequately provide for the operational expenses of the Alabama Impaired Professionals' Committee, including, but not limited to, the actual cost of travel, office overhead and personnel expense, and compensation for the members of the committee and its staff; provided that operational expenses of the Alabama Impaired Professionals' Committee shall not include the cost of treatment or rehabilitation programs recommended by the committee to individuals subject to this chapter. The funds provided by the board or boards, under this section for the purposes stated herein shall not be subject to any provision of law requiring competitive bidding.

(Acts 1988, No. 88-334, p. 505, §2; Acts 1989, No. 89-860, p. 1713, §2; Act 2013-252, p. 626, §1.)