Senate Committee Advances Gordner Bills to Combat Methamphetamine

(HARRISBURG) - - Seeking to stop the production of methamphetamine, the Senate Judiciary Committee today approved a five bill package known as the "Pennsylvania Combat Meth Initiative". The package included three bills sponsored by Senator John R. Gordner (R-27).

"The legislation will make it more difficult to obtain the ingredients necessary to produce methamphetamine, adds new protections for children and cleans up the environmental damage caused by illegal meth labs," said the Sen. Gordner. The Senator and several of his colleagues introduced the legislation in conjunction with Pennsylvania Attorney General Thomas Corbett.

Senate Bill 1117 provides for the specific offense of operating a methamphetamine laboratory, and increases penalties if the lab is operated near a school, day care center or playground.

Senate Bill 1118 provides for penalties for possessing the ingredients necessary for the production of methamphetamine.

Senate Bill 1119 provides for defendants to be assessed the environmental clean-up costs associated with methamphetamine laboratories.

"Meth labs are environmental disasters just waiting to happen because ingredients in meth production can cause explosions, chemical fires and toxic releases," said Sen. Gordner. "It also makes good sense to increase penalties for the operation of labs and to provide for additional penalties if these labs are operated near where children may be learning and playing."

The Judiciary Committee also approved Senate Bill 1115, sponsored by Sen. Roger Madigan (R-23), adding the definition of "precursor substance" to the Controlled Substance Act to allow the Secretary of Health to add chemicals to the current list of controlled substances if they are found to be used in the production of methamphetamine.

The Committee also approved Senate Bill 1120, sponsored by Sen. Bob Robbins (R-50) to provide for penalties for parents or guardians who operate a meth lab in the vicinity of a child.

The package of bills now moves to the full Senate for consideration.