EMERGENCY SCHEDULING; LEGISLATIVE REPORT

(a) Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (b) and subject to Subsection (c), the commissioner may emergency schedule a substance as a controlled substance if the commissioner determines the action is necessary to avoid an imminent hazard to the public safety. (b) The commissioner may not emergency schedule a substance as a controlled substance under this section if: (1) the substance is already scheduled; (2) an exemption or approval is in effect for the substance under Section 505, Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. Section 355); or (3) the substance is an over-the-counter drug that qualifies for recognition as safe and effective under conditions established by federal regulations of the United States Food and Drug Administration governing over-the-counter drugs. (c) Before emergency scheduling a substance as a controlled substance under this section, the commissioner shall consult with the Department of Public Safety and may emergency schedule the substance only in accordance with any recommendations provided by the department. (d) In determining whether a substance poses an imminent hazard to the public safety, the commissioner shall consider: (1) the scope, duration, symptoms, or significance of abuse; (2) the degree of detriment that abuse of the substance may cause; (3) whether the substance has been temporarily scheduled under federal law; and (4) whether the substance has been temporarily or permanently scheduled under the law of another state. (e) If the commissioner emergency schedules a substance as a controlled substance under this section, an emergency exists for purposes of Section 481.036(c) and the action takes effect on the date the schedule is published in the Texas Register. (f) Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (f-1), an emergency scheduling under this section expires on September 1 of each odd-numbered year for any scheduling that occurs before January 1 of that year. (f-1) The commissioner may extend the emergency scheduling of a substance under this section not more than once and for a period not to exceed one year by publishing the extension in the Texas Register. If the commissioner extends the emergency scheduling of a substance, an emergency exists for purposes of Section 481.036(c) and the action takes effect on the date the extension is published in the Texas Register. (g) The commissioner shall post notice about each emergency scheduling of a substance or each extension of an emergency scheduling of a substance under this section on the Internet website of the Department of State Health Services. (h) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, the commissioner shall submit a report about each emergency scheduling action taken under this section during the preceding two-year period to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over the department and each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over criminal justice matters.