GOV. SIGNS LAW TO TOUGHEN METH OFFENSES

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich recently signed a law that
toughens current anti-methamphetamine laws by making any attempt to
possess, procure, transport, store, or deliver a key meth ingredient
a Class 4 felony. Class 4 felonies can carry a prison term of one to
three years and/or a fine of up to $25,000.

Senate Bill 274, sponsored by State Senator Larry Bomke
(R-Springfield) and State Rep. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy), makes it a
felony to attempt to steal, improperly store, or transport anhydrous
ammonia. Anhydrous ammonia is a key ingredient in the production of
methamphetamine, and its storage in unauthorized containers can be
extremely dangerous. This increased penalty will deter those who may
be planning to steal anhydrous ammonia to manufacture
methamphetamine.

"Anhydrous ammonia is useful as a fertilizer; unfortunately it is
also an ingredient for methamphetamine production and becomes
extremely dangerous when it's not handled properly," said Gov.
Blagojevich. "We must do what we can to stop the spread of meth
addiction and trafficking in our communities, and to protect the
public from the dangers associated with obtaining the ingredients for
meth. This bill is a step in that direction and will make sure that
those who put the public at risk by manufacturing this dangerous
drug face stiff consequences."

Anhydrous ammonia is traditionally stored in large tanks under
pressure for use on farms. Because it is difficult for meth cookers
to access the substance easily, farmers' tanks of anhydrous ammonia
are often targeted by meth 'cookers'. When released, anhydrous
ammonia can cause injuries to emergency responders, the public, and
meth cookers. When handled improperly, anhydrous ammonia can be
explosive and deadly. Meth cookers steal anhydrous ammonia in
unauthorized containers such as beverage coolers and gas canisters.

Current law classifies the attempted possession, procurement,
transportation, or delivery of anhydrous ammonia in an unauthorized
container as a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a prison term of up
to 364 days, 2 years of probation and a maximum fine of $2,500.

In May, Governor Blagojevich awarded $535,000 in Anhydrous Ammonia
Security Grants to 50 Illinois agrichemical dealers throughout the
state. The funding helps prevent the theft of anhydrous ammonia, a
farm fertilizer and key ingredient used to manufacture
methamphetamine. This was the second installment of grants since the
Governor created the Anhydrous Ammonia Grant Program in August 2006,
and furthers the Governor's efforts to reduce the production and
manufacture of the illicit drug.

Meth has become a growing crisis in the State of Illinois with prison
admissions rising from only 6 in fiscal year 1999 to 421 in fiscal
year 2004. The current prison population for Meth offenders is more
than 800 with countless others in prison who are believed to have
committed their offense while under the influence of the drug.

In 2002, Illinois State Police seized 668 meth labs statewide and
made 820 related arrests. By 2006, the number of seizures had grown
to 786, and accounted for over 1,100 arrests.

Last year, the Governor created the Meth Prison Initiative, which
included the creation of a 200-bed Meth Unit at the 667-bed
Southwestern Illinois Correctional Center in St. Clair County. For FY
2008, the Governor is expanding the Sheridan Correctional Center
from 950 offenders to its full capacity of 1,300 offenders, with 200
of those spaces to be used for another Meth Unit.

Inmates in both programs will not only have access to intensive
prison-based drug treatment programs, vocational training, job
preparation and mental health services, but their treatment will
continue upon completion of their sentence under a highly supervised
transition back to their communities.