An Act To Require Photographic Identification for Prescriptions for Certain Controlled Substances
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1829
Committee: Health and Human Services
Amends: 32 MRSA §13799

Legislative Document 
No. 1829 
H.P. 1349 
House of Representatives, February 22, 2012 
An Act To Require Photographic Identification for Prescriptions for 
Certain Controlled Substances 
Reported by Representative STRANG BURGESS of Cumberland for the Joint Standing 
Committee on Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Order, H.P. 1328. 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed 
pursuant to Joint Rule 218. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §13799 is enacted to read: 
§13799.  Photographic proof of identification for controlled substances 
1.  Definition.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, 
"controlled substance" has the same meaning as in Title 22, section 7246, subsection 1. 
2.  Required photographic proof of identification.  As a precondition to filling any 
prescription for a controlled substance, a pharmacist or person acting at the direction of a 
pharmacist shall demand, inspect and record proof of identification, including valid 
photographic identification, from any patient presenting a prescription for a controlled 
substance or any person acting on behalf of the patient.  For purposes of this section, any 
of the following are considered to be valid photographic identification: 
A.  A valid Maine motor vehicle operator's license; 
B.  A valid Maine identification card issued under Title 29-A, section 1410; 
C.  A valid United States passport; 
D.  A valid passport, motor vehicle operator's license of another state, territory, 
possession or foreign country or official identification card issued by the United 
States Government only if it: 
(1)  Contains a photograph of the person presenting the identification; 
(2)  Is encased in tamper-resistant plastic or otherwise possesses indicia of 
tamper-resistance; and 
(3)  Identifies the person's date of birth; or 
E.  Other valid, tamper-resistant, photographic identification as provided in rules 
adopted by the board pursuant to section 13722, subsection 1, paragraph A and in 
accordance with Title 5, chapter 375. 
3.  Refusal to fill prescription; law enforcement reporting.  A pharmacist or 
person acting at the direction of a pharmacist may exercise discretion and refuse to fill 
any prescription or dispense any controlled substance if unsatisfied as to the legitimacy or 
appropriateness of any prescription presented, the validity of any photographic 
identification or the identity of any patient presenting a prescription or any person acting 
on behalf of the patient, or the intention of the customer to use the controlled substance 
according to the instructions for use.  A pharmacist or person acting at the direction of a 
pharmacist may make a report to a law enforcement agency when that person has 
reasonable cause to suspect that a prescription is not legitimate or appropriate, that a 
person has presented photographic identification that is not valid or that a customer has 
the intention to use a controlled substance in a manner inconsistent with the instructions 
for use. 
4.  Immunity; presumption of good faith.  A pharmacist or person acting at the 
direction of a pharmacist who in good faith and pursuant to subsection 3 refuses to fill 
any prescription or dispense any controlled substance or who makes a report to a law 
enforcement agency is immune from any civil liability that might otherwise result from 
that action, including, but not limited to, any civil liability that might otherwise arise 
under state or local laws or rules regarding confidentiality of information. In a proceeding 
regarding immunity from liability, there is a rebuttable presumption of good faith. 
SUMMARY 
This bill is a recommendation from the Substance Abuse Services Commission's 
work group convened pursuant to Resolve 2011, chapter 81 and is reported out by the 
Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Order 2011, 
H.P. 1328.  This bill requires a pharmacist or person acting at the direction of a 
pharmacist to demand, inspect and record proof of identification before filling a 
prescription for a controlled substance.  For the purposes of this bill, "controlled 
substance" means a drug or other substance included in schedules II, III or IV of 21 
United States Code, Section 812 or 21 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1308.