Establishes offense of excessive prescription drug prices, including definitions, burden of proof, and judicial remedies.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the excessive prices of prescription drugs in the State of Hawaii threatens the health and welfare of the State's residents as well as the State's ability to ensure that all residents receive the health care that they need. Excessive prescription drug prices directly and indirectly cause economic harm to the State of Hawaii and its residents.

It is the responsibility of the State to protect and promote the health, safety, and welfare of state residents. The State may promote the public health, safety, and welfare by regulating monopoly pricing of goods and services and preventing or sanctioning unfair trade practices. Accordingly, it is incumbent upon the legislature to take action to restrain the excessive prices of prescription drugs through mechanisms that are consistent with state and federal law.

The purpose of this Act is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents of the State of Hawaii by preventing excessive prices of prescription drugs.

SECTION 2. Chapter 328, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"PART . EXCESSIVE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICING

§328- Definitions. As used in this part, unless the context requires otherwise:

"Affected party" means any person who is directly or indirectly affected by excessive prices of patented prescription drugs, including any organization representing such persons or any person or organization or entity representing the public interest in connection with the price of prescription drugs.

"High income country" means any of the following: United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and Australia.

§328- Excessive pricing in sales of prescription drugs; violation. It shall be unlawful for any drug manufacturer or drug manufacturer's licensee, excluding a point of sale retail seller, to:

§328- Burden of proof. (a) A prima facie case of excessive prescription drug pricing shall be established when the wholesale price of a patented prescription drug in the State is more than thirty per cent higher than the comparable price in any high income country in which the prescription drug is protected by patents or other exclusive marketing rights.

(b) Where a prima facie case of excessive prescription drug pricing is established, the burden of establishing proof by a preponderance of the evidence shall shift to the defendant. The defendant shall show that a given prescription drug is not excessively priced, given demonstrated costs of invention, development, and production of the prescription drug, global sales and profits to date, consideration of any government funded research that supported the development of the drug, and the impact of price on access to the prescription drug by residents and the State.

§328- Judicial remedies. (a) Any affected party, including the State, shall have standing to file a civil suit in a court of competent jurisdiction for a violation of this part and to seek a remedy, including declaratory and injunctive relief.

(b) If a judge of the court of competent jurisdiction finds that there has been excessive prescription drug pricing in a suit filed by an affected party, the judge shall levy any appropriate civil penalties including:

SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun, before its effective date.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.