Bill > HB2101

This bill modifies Tennessee law regarding the sale of products containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, which are often used in the illegal production of methamphetamine. Key provisions include increasing the annual purchase limit for these products from 43.2 grams to 61.2 grams per person, and replacing the term "National Precursor Log Exchange" (NPLEx), a previous tracking system, with "electronic sales tracking system," which is defined as a state-adopted system for real-time monitoring of these sales to prevent illegal purchases. Manufacturers of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine products sold in Tennessee will be required to pay monthly fees to the administrator of this electronic sales tracking system, with annual fee increases capped at 10% unless justified by cost factors. The bill also mandates that pharmacies have the necessary equipment to use the electronic sales tracking system by January 1, 2012, and electronically submit sales data, with provisions for correcting data entry errors and immunity from civil liability for pharmacies using the system correctly, unless they violate its requirements. Furthermore, the bill extends these tracking requirements to online and remote sales, requiring verification of government-issued identification and ensuring products are shipped only to the purchaser's residential address, not to post office boxes or commercial mail receiving agencies. The bill also outlines how individuals placed on a methamphetamine registry will be electronically notified to the system, triggering a stop-sale alert, and how they will be removed once cleared from the registry.