Req. No. 2959 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 2nd Session of the 58th Legislature (2022) SENATE BILL 1704 By: Paxton AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to medical marijuana; amendin g 63 O.S. 2021, Section 427. 6, as last amended by Section 11, Chapter 553, O.S.L . 2021, which relates to monitoring and disciplinary actions for license holders; expanding scope of penalties; decreasing period for assessment of penalties; increasing fine amount; removing penalties for inaccurate or fraudulent reporting; authorizing the revocatio n of license upon a second violation by the business, or any employee or agent thereof; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 2021, Sectio n 427.6, as last amended by Section 11, Chapter 553, O.S.L . 2021, is amended to read as follows: Section 427.6. A. The State Department of Hea lth shall address issues related to the medical m arijuana program in Oklahoma including, but not limited to, mon itoring and disciplinary actions as they relate to the medica l marijuana program. B. 1. The Department or its designee may perform on -site inspections or investigations of a licensee or appli cant for any Req. No. 2959 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 medical marijuana business license , research facility, education facility or waste disposal facility to determine compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations or submissions made pur suant to this section. The Department may enter t he licensed premises of a medical marijuana business , research facility, education facility or waste disposal facility licensee or applicant to assess or monitor compliance or ensure qualifications for lice nsure. 2. Post-licensure inspections shall be limited to twice per calendar year. However, investigations and additional inspections may occur when the Departmen t believes an investigation or additional inspection is ne cessary due to a possible violation of applicable laws, rules or regulations . The State Commissioner of Health may adopt rules imposing penalties in cluding, but not limited to, monetary fines and suspension o r revocation of licensure for failure to allow the Authority reasonable access to the licensed premises for purposes of conducting a n inspection. 3. The Department may review relevant records of a licensed medical marijuana business, licensed medi cal marijuana research facility, licensed medical marij uana education facility or licensed medical marijuana waste disposal facility , and may require and conduct interviews with such persons or entities a nd persons affiliated with such entities, for the purpose of determining compliance with Department require ments and applicable laws , rules and regulations. Req. No. 2959 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 4. The Department may refer complaints alleging criminal activity that are made against a licensee to appropriate Oklahoma state or local law enforcement auth orities. C. Disciplinary action may be taken a gainst an applicant or licensee for not adhering to applicable laws pursuant to the terms, conditions and guidelines set forth i n the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act . D. Disciplinary actions may include revocation, suspension or denial of an application, license or final authorization and other action deemed appropri ate by the Department. E. Disciplinary actions may be imposed u pon a medical marijuana business licensee for: 1. Failure to comply with or satisfy any provision o f applicable laws, rules or regulat ions; 2. Falsification or misrepresentation of any mater ial or information submitted to the Department or other licensees; 3. Failing to allow or impedin g entry by authorized representatives of the Department; 4. Failure to adhere to any acknowledgem ent, verification or other representation made to the Depart ment; 5. Failure to submit or disclose information required b y applicable laws, rules or regulations or otherwise requested by the Department; Req. No. 2959 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 6. Failure to correct any violation of this secti on cited as a result of a review or audit of financial records or other materials; 7. Failure to comply with requested access by the Department to the licensed premises or materials; 8. Failure to pay a required monetary penalty; 9. Diversion of medical marijuana or any medical marijuana product, as determined by the Department; 10. Threatening or harming a medical marijuana patient licensee, caregiver licensee , a medical practitioner or an employee of the Department; and 11. Any other basis indicating a violation of the applicable laws and regulations as identif ied by the Department. F. Disciplinary actions against a licens ee may include the imposition of monetary penalties, which m ay be assessed by the Department. The Department may suspend or revoke a license for failure to pay any monetary penalty lawfully a ssessed by the Department against a licensee. G. Penalties for sales or, purchases or transfers of medical marijuana by a medical marijuana business or employees or agents of the medical marijuana business to persons other than those allowed by law occurring within any two-year one-year time period may include an initial fine of One Five Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) ($5,000.00) for a first violation and a fine of Five Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) ($15,000.00) for any subsequent Req. No. 2959 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 violation. Penalties for grossly inaccurate or fraudulent reporting occurring within any two-year time period may include an initial fine of Five Thousand Dol lars ($5,000.00) for a first violation and a fine of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) for any subsequent violation. The medical marijuana business may shall be subject to a revocation of any license granted pursuant t o the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patien t Protection Act upon a showing that the violation was willful or grossly negligent second violation of the business or any employee or agent thereof . H. 1. First offense for intentional and impermissible diversion of medical marijuana, concentrate, or products by a patient or caregiver to an unauthorized person shall not be punished under a criminal statute but may be subject to a fine of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00). 2. The second offense for impermissible diversion of medical marijuana, concentrate, or products by a patient or caregiver to an unauthorized person sh all not be punished under a criminal statute but may be subject to a fine of not to exceed Five Hundred Dolla rs ($500.00) and may result in revocation of the license upon a showing that the violation was willful or grossly negligent. I. The intentional diversion of medical marijuana, medical marijuana concentrate or medical marijuana products by a licensed medical marijuana patient or caregiver, medical marijuana business or employee of a medical marijuan a business to an unauthorized minor Req. No. 2959 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 person who the licensed medical marijuana patient or caregiver, medical marijuana business or employee of a medical marijuana business knew or reasonably should have known to be a minor person shall be subject to a cite and release citation and, upon a finding of guilt or a plea of no contest, a fine of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00). For a second or subsequent o ffense, the licensed medical marijuana patient or caregiver, medical marijuana business or empl oyee of a medical marijuana business shall be subject to a cite and release citation and, upon a finding of guilt or a plea of no contest, a fine of Five Thousan d Dollars ($5,000.00) and automatic termination of the medical marijuana license. J. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the criminal prosecution, after the presentation of evidence and a finding beyond a reasonable doubt, of a licensed medical marijuana patient or caregiver, medical marijuana business or empl oyee of a medical marijuana business who has diverted medical marijuana, medical marijuana concentrate or medical marijuana products to an unauthorized person with the intent or know ledge that the unauthorized person was to engage in the distribution or tr afficking of medical marijuana, medical marijuana concentrate or medical marijuana products. K. In addition to any other remedies p rovided for by law, the Department, pursuant to its rules and regulations, may issue a Req. No. 2959 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 written order to any licensee the De partment has reason to believe has violated Sections 420 through 426.1 of this title, the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Prot ection Act, the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Waste Management Act, or any rules promulgated by the State Commissioner of Heal th and to whom the Dep artment has served, not less than thirty (30) days p reviously, a written notice of violation of such statutes o r rules. 1. The written order shall state with sp ecificity the nature of the violation. The Department may impose any disciplinary action authorized under the provisions of this section including , but not limited to, the assessment of monetary penalties. 2. Any order issued pursuant to the provisions o f this section shall become a final order unless, not more than thirty (30) days after the order is served to the licensee, the licensee requests a n administrative hearing in accordance with the rules and r egulations of the Department. Upon such request, the Department shall promptly initiate administrative proceedings. L. Whenever the Department finds that an emergency exists requiring immediate a ction in order to protect the health or welfare of the public, the Department may issue an order, without pro viding notice or hearing, stating the existence of said emergency and requiring that action be taken as the Department deems necessary to meet the emergency. Such action may include, but is not limited to, ordering the licensee to immediately cease and de sist operations by Req. No. 2959 Page 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 the licensee. The order shall be effective immedia tely upon issuance. Any person to whom the order is directed shall comply immediately with the provisions of the order . The Department may assess a penalty not to exceed Ten Thousand D ollars ($10,000.00) per day of noncompliance with the order . In assessing such a penalty, the Department shall consider the seriousness of the vio lation and any efforts to comply with applicable requiremen ts. Upon application to the Department, the licen see shall be offered a hearing within ten (10) days of the issuance of the order. M. All hearings held pursuant to this section shall be in accordance with the Oklahoma Administrative Procedures Act. SECTION 2. This act shall be come effective November 1, 2022. 58-2-2959 MR 1/20/2022 5:45:33 PM