The DPS’s Division of Investigations (NDI) conducted the investigation and issued a first set of findings to the Governor’s Office. In that letter, the Governor also initiated an investigation into BOP practices regarding fingerprinting requirements and the collection and disposition of associated fees. On the same day the Governor learned of this failure of duty by the BOP, he issued a letter to the then-Chair of the BOP instituting an immediate moratorium on the Board’s issuance of wholesale pharmacy licenses. Additionally, the Governor’s Office was also notified that the BOP had been collecting fees from applicants for the processing of fingerprint cards since the law went into effect, despite not submitting the actual fingerprints for background checks.

On May 3rd of this year, Director Togliatti informed the Governor’s Office of his discovery that the BOP had routinely failed, since as far back as 2007, to submit fingerprints to the Central Repository for Nevada Records for Criminal History for required criminal background checks of applicants for wholesale pharmacy licenses and renewals, pursuant to a state law that was enacted in 2005 to protect against the distribution of counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs. They also described the aggressive steps the Governor’s Administration has taken to address the issue in the immediate and long-term to protect the public health and safety of all Nevadans. Today, the Governor and Nevada Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director George Togliatti held a press conference to provide insight on a longstanding, alarming issue concerning the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy (BOP) wholesale pharmacy licensing process that was brought to the Governor’s attention earlier this year.

Nevada state board of pharmacy