,,ii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #abgg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #aj1 #bjac ,mrs4 ,boxer introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to establish a commission for the purpose of coordinating efforts to reduce prescription drug abuse1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,combating ,prescription ,drug ,abuse ,act4 #b4 ,commission 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established the ,combating ,prescription ,drug ,abuse ,commission 7referred to in this ,act as the ,commission74 7b7 ,membership 7#a7 ,appointment ,the ,commission shall be composed of #cj members4 ,such members shall be appointed by the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services and the ,attorney ,general4 7#b7 ,composition ,the members appointed under paragraph 7#a7 shall include an equitable balance of individuals representing health care groups and law enforcement groups1 including-- 7,a7 a representative of the ,drug ,enforcement ,administration2 7,b7 a representative of the ,food and ,drug ,administration2 7,c7 a representative of the ,office of ,national ,drug ,control ,policy2 7,d7 representatives of patient1 advocacy1 and community-based groups2 7,e7 representatives of pharmacy1 prescribers1 hospitals1 wholesalers1 dispensers1 manufacturers1 and other health care groups2 7,f7 public policy experts2 7,g7 representatives of ,state attorneys general2 and 7,h7 representatives of law enforcement officials1 including local law enforcement officials4 7#c7 ,date of appointment ,the appointments of the members of the ,commission shall be made not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7#d7 ,co-,chairs ,the representative of the ,drug ,enforcement ,administration and the representative of the ,food and ,drug ,administration shall serve as ,co-,chairs of the ,commission4 7#e7 ,period of appointment2 vacancies ,members shall be appointed for the life of the ,commission4 ,any vacancy in the ,commission shall not affect its powers1 but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment4 7c7 ,meetings ,the ,commission shall meet at the call of the ,co-,chairs4 ,the ,commission shall meet for at least #b public meetings1 at which the ,commission shall provide opportunity for public input1 comment1 and suggestion4 7d7 ,duties of the commission 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,commission shall-- 7,a7 review and report to ,congress on ,federal initiatives with respect to efforts to prevent and reduce prescription drug abuse2 7,b7 identify gaps and opportunities with respect to ensuring the safe use of prescription drugs with the potential for diversion and abuse2 and 7,c7 make recommendations on specific ways to reduce diversion and abuse of prescription drugs4 7#b7 ,report 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,commission shall issue a report to ,congress that describes the efforts of the ,commission to prevent or reduce drug diversion and abuse to ensure that patients continue to have access to medications4 7,b7 ,recommendations ,the report described in subparagraph 7,a7 shall include specific recommendations for the ,drug ,enforcement ,administration1 the ,food and ,drug ,administration1 and other ,federal and ,state agencies1 as appropriate1 and shall include the following topics3 7i7 ,systems for prescription drug monitoring1 which shall include proposals to increase the use and sustainability of prescription drug monitoring programs4 7ii7 ,illegal ,internet prescription drug sites and pill mills that distribute prescription drugs and fill prescriptions inappropriately4 7iii7 ,facilitating proper disposal of prescription drugs1 including public outreach and education efforts with respect to such proper disposal4 7iv7 ,identifying active areas of prescription drug abuse4 7v7 ,improving collaboration among ,federal agencies1 especially the ,drug ,enforcement ,administration and the ,food and ,drug ,administration4 7vi7 ,improving collaboration between ,federal agencies and relevant stakeholders1 including the groups represented on the ,commission4 7vii7 ,the resource needs for law enforcement4 7viii7 ,proposals to improve the education of providers1 patients1 parents1 and youth4 7ix7 ,development of abuse-resistant products4 7x7 ,recommendations for reducing robberies1 burglaries1 and cargo theft4 7e7 ,powers of the ,commission 7#a7 ,hearings ,the ,commission may hold such hearings1 sit and act at such times and places1 take such testimony1 and receive such evidence as the ,commission considers advisable to carry out this section4 7#b7 ,information from ,federal agencies ,the ,commission may secure directly from any ,federal department or agency such information as the ,commission considers necessary to carry out this section4 ,upon the request of the ,co-,chairs of the ,commission1 the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the ,commission in a timely manner4 7f7 ,confidentiality ,information obtained by the ,commission from any ,federal agency shall be exempt from disclosure under section #eeb of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 ,for purposes of the preceding sentence1 this subsection shall be considered a statute described in subsection 7b77#c77;,b7 of such section #eeb4 7g7 ,termination of the commission ,the ,commission shall terminate #b years after the date on which the members are appointed under subsection 7b74 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated #c1jjj1jjj for fiscal years #bjad through #bjaf to the ,commission to carry out this section4 7#b7 ,limitation on use of funds ,no funds appropriated under paragraph 7#a7 may be used to carry out the recommendations of the ,commission4