SECTION 1. Section 72 of Chapter 111 of the Massachusetts General Laws as appearing in the 2002 edition is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section:-

Section 72Z.  As used in this section the following words shall have the following meanings:-

"Long term care facility," a convalescent home, nursing home, rest home or charitable home for the aged licensed under the provisions of section seventy one of said chapter.

"Medication technician," any employee of a long term care facility who has certification and under the guidance of a registered nurse dispenses to a patient in a long term care facility any oral medication, which is not included in the schedules of controlled substances established under the Federal Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act.

             The department shall establish standards for training and certification of medication technicians. Training shall include, but not be limited to quality measurements to assure competency and ongoing educational requirements.

             The department shall establish a list of approved medications to be administered by medication technicians under the approval of a patient’s medical team.

Any person administering a long term care facility may hire a medication technician who has documented evidence of having satisfactorily completed a training program and competency test approved by the department on the topic of dispensing medications.

The department shall make such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.