HOUSE PASSES CONTROVERSIAL METHADONE BILL, REJECTS ANOTHER

RICHMOND (AP)- Lawmakers on a House panel approved controversial
legislation Tuesday that would prohibit methadone clinics from operating
within a half-mile of a school or day-care center.

The same committee also rejected a similar, but less restrictive, measure
by one vote in what the bill's Democratic patron said amounted to
"political games."

The bills, sponsored by Sens. William Wampler and John Edwards, both would
have required the state to notify localities when it receives an
application to open a clinic in their area. Wampler's proposal added the
school-proximity restriction, which opponents say would effectively ban
methadone clinics in many urban areas.

Wampler's bill passed the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee
by a 14-7 vote, while Edwards' failed 10-9.

Wampler, R-Bristol, said southwest Virginia residents have been enraged by
recent proposals to open clinics in their neighborhoods, bringing what they
fear will be an increase in drug trafficking and crime.

But opponents of his measure, who testified before lawmakers for the first
time Tuesday, said there are too many misconceptions surrounding the
clinics, which help hundreds of Virginians recover from addictions to
heroin, morphine and other painkillers, including OxyContin.

"We're already having problems opening up these programs," said Laurel
Heiser, assistant program director for a private company that operates
clinics in Virginia. "Folks don't even want to give us a chance."

Heiser testified that many addicts in Virginia already have to travel hours
to receive methadone treatment. If Wampler's bill passed, there would be
few spots in the city of Roanoke, for instance, where clinics could legally
be placed, she said.

"Crime is already going to occur in many of these neighborhoods, especially
if there are not treatment options," she said.

Wampler said, however, that many clinics become open-air drug markets in
the hours before they open in the morning, as dealers try to tempt the
people who come for treatment.

"Methadone treatment, we believe, should be in the proper hospital
setting," he said. His bill would carve out exceptions for treatment
programs in hospitals located near schools.

Edwards, D-Roanoke, argued that the half-mile restriction was arbitrary and
may doom Wampler's bill in the full House. He viewed his proposal as a
less-intrusive alternative as it only would require the state to inform
localities of pending license applications to give them time to hold public
hearings.

Edwards said the House committee may have voted his bill down in response
to the full Senate re-refering a similar House proposal to committee on
Monday. Del. Onzlee Ware's bill would only require prior notification of
planned clinics, like Edwards'.

"I wanted to keep mine separate in case (Wampler's) didn't go through the
full House," he said. "It seems like political games are being played after
what the Senate did yesterday on the floor."

The same committee voted down a House bill similar to Wampler's last month,
but reversed its position on Tuesday.