I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4635 
To provide for a prescription drug take-back program for members of the 
Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 26, 2016 
Mr. CARTWRIGHT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees 
on Armed Services, the Judiciary, and Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to 
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To provide for a prescription drug take-back program for 
members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Servicemembers and 
Veterans Prescription Drug Safety Act of 2016’’. 
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SEC. 2. PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK PROGRAM FOR 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND 
THEIR DEPENDENTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED BENEFICIARY.—The term ‘‘cov-
ered beneficiary’’ has the meaning given that term 
in section 1072 of title 10, United States Code. 
(2) COVERED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.—The 
term ‘‘covered controlled substance’’ means a con-
trolled substance that is listed in schedule II, III, 
IV, or V of section 202(c) of the Controlled Sub-
stances Act (21 U.S.C. 812(c)). 
(3) DEPENDENT.—The term ‘‘dependent’’ has 
the meaning given that term in section 1072 of title 
10, United States Code. 
(4) ELIGIBLE PERSON.—The term ‘‘eligible per-
son’’ means— 
(A) a member of the Armed Forces; 
(B) an individual who is receiving or is en-
titled to receive retired or retainer pay under 
chapter 71 of title 10, United States Code; 
(C) a dependent of a member of the Armed 
Forces, if that dependent is a covered bene-
ficiary in receipt of health care services under 
chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code; and 
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(D) any person lawfully entitled to dispose 
of the property of a person described in sub-
paragraphs (A) through (C) who dies while law-
fully in possession of a covered controlled sub-
stance for personal use. 
(5) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘program’’ means 
the program established under subsection (b)(1). 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Defense. 
(b) PROGRAM REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary and the At-
torney General shall jointly carry out a program, 
which shall, except as provided in paragraph (2), be 
carried out in accordance with section 302(g) of the 
Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 822(g)), 
under which an eligible person who has lawfully ob-
tained a covered controlled substance in accordance 
with such Act may deliver the covered controlled 
substance to be disposed of at a facility and by a 
person specified under paragraph (2). 
(2) DELIVERY OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.— 
Notwithstanding the requirement under section 
302(g)(1) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 
U.S.C. 822(g)(1)) that a person receiving a con-
trolled substance be authorized to receive the con-
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trolled substance under such Act, the Secretary and 
the Attorney General shall jointly specify the facili-
ties and persons to which covered controlled sub-
stances may be delivered under the program. 
(c) PREVENTION OF ABUSE.—In implementing the 
program, the Secretary and the Attorney General shall 
jointly develop appropriate guidelines and procedures to 
prevent the diversion, misuse, theft, or loss of controlled 
substances delivered under the program. 
(d) ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM.— 
(1) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and 
the Attorney General shall jointly prescribe regula-
tions to carry out the program. 
(2) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date on which the Secretary and the Attor-
ney General jointly prescribe regulations under para-
graph (1), the Secretary shall fully implement the 
program. 
SEC. 3. PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK PROGRAM FOR 
VETERANS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.—The 
term ‘‘covered controlled substance’’ means a con-
trolled substance that is listed in schedule II, III, 
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IV, or V of section 202(c) of the Controlled Sub-
stances Act (21 U.S.C. 812(c)). 
(2) ELIGIBLE PERSON.—The term ‘‘eligible per-
son’’ means— 
(A) a veteran; 
(B) the spouse of a veteran, if the spouse 
is in receipt of medical services under laws ad-
ministered by the Secretary; 
(C) a dependent of a veteran, if the de-
pendent is in receipt of medical services under 
laws administered by the Secretary; 
(D) a person described in section 2(a)(4) 
who is in receipt of medical services at a facility 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and 
(E) any person lawfully entitled to dispose 
of the property of a person described in sub-
paragraphs (A) through (D) who dies while law-
fully in possession of a covered controlled sub-
stance for personal use. 
(3) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘program’’ means 
the program established under subsection (b)(1). 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
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(5) VETERAN.—The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 101 of title 38, 
United States Code. 
(b) PROGRAM REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary and the At-
torney General shall jointly carry out a program, 
which shall, except as provided in paragraph (2), be 
carried out in accordance with section 302(g) of the 
Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 822(g)), 
under which an eligible person who has lawfully ob-
tained a covered controlled substance in accordance 
with such Act may deliver the covered controlled 
substance to be disposed of at a facility and by a 
person specified under paragraph (2). 
(2) DELIVERY OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.— 
Notwithstanding the requirement under section 
302(g)(1) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 
U.S.C. 822(g)(1)) that a person receiving a con-
trolled substance be authorized to receive the con-
trolled substance under such Act, the Secretary and 
the Attorney General shall jointly specify the facili-
ties and persons to which covered controlled sub-
stances may be delivered under the program. 
(c) PREVENTION OF ABUSE.—In implementing the 
program, the Secretary and the Attorney General shall 
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jointly develop appropriate guidelines and procedures to 
prevent the diversion, misuse, theft, or loss of controlled 
substances delivered under the program. 
(d) ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM.— 
(1) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and 
the Attorney General shall jointly prescribe regula-
tions to carry out the program. 
(2) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date on which the Secretary and the Attor-
ney General jointly prescribe regulations under para-
graph (1), the Secretary shall fully implement the 
program. 
Æ 
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