(a) This Division I does not require any Person to serve as a Collector in a Stewardship Plan. A Person may offer to serve as a Collector voluntarily, or may agree to serve as a Collector in exchange for incentives or payment offered by a Producer, group of Producers or Stewardship Organization. Collectors may include law enforcement agencies, Pharmacies, mail-back services or other entities, operating in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations for the handling of Covered Drugs, including but not limited to those of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and in compliance with this Division I. A Pharmacy collection site shall operate under applicable rules and guidelines of the State of California Board of Pharmacy.
(b) The collection system for each Stewardship Plan shall:
(1) Provide reasonably convenient and equitable access for all City residents in all Supervisorial Districts. The system of drop-off sites shall provide at least five drop-off sites in every Supervisorial District, geographically distributed to provide reasonably convenient and equitable access. If the service convenience goal in this subsection (b)(1) cannot be achieved due to a lack of drop-off sites at pharmacies, law enforcement agencies, or other qualified Collectors in each Supervisorial District, then those areas shall be served through periodic collection events and/or mail-back services;
(2) Be safe and secure, including providing for the prompt destruction of patient information on Drug packaging;
(3) Give preference to having Retail Pharmacies and law enforcement agencies serve as drop-off sites;
(4) Include, as Collectors, any Retail Pharmacy or any law enforcement agency willing to serve voluntarily as a drop-off site for Unwanted Covered Drugs and able to meet the requirements of this Division I within three months of their offer to participate, unless the Collector requests a longer time frame. A Stewardship Plan may also accept other Collectors willing to serve as a drop-off site for Unwanted Covered Drugs and able to meet the requirements of this Division I; and
(5) Make mail-back services available, free of charge, to disabled and home-bound residents upon request through the Stewardship Plan's toll-free telephone number and web site, and through distribution of prepaid, pre-addressed mailers to Persons providing services to such residents. The toll-free telephone number and web site required by this subsection (b)(5) shall be in English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, and Tagalog.
(c) In addition to the collection system described in subsection (b)(1), all stewardship plans shall jointly operate a drop-off site within each City-owned pharmacy.
(d) Drop-off sites shall accept all Covered Drugs from City residents during all hours that the Retail Pharmacy, law enforcement agency, or other Collector is normally open for business with the public. Drop-off sites not operated by a law enforcement agency shall utilize secure collection bins in compliance with all applicable requirements, including but not limited to those of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the State of California Board of Pharmacy. In the event that more than one Stewardship Plan operates a drop-off site at a particular location, each drop-off site must accept all Covered Drugs.