HOUSE TO INCREASE DRUG PENALTIES

WASHINGTON - The House voted Tuesday to increase penalties for
drug dealers who involve children in their trafficking activities and
to extend federal help for drug-abuse programs substituting treatment
for prison.

Under the first bill, the mandatory minimum sentence would rise from
one year to three for drug dealers who use children under the age of
18 to distribute drugs, sell to minors or sell drugs in or near
schools or other protected areas such as playgrounds or video arcades.

The minimum sentence for second-time offenders would go from one to
five years.

The second bill, also approved by a voice vote, authorizes spending of
up to $485 million over five years to help state and local prosecutors
implement drug treatment alternative programs.

The federal government would pay up to 75 percent of the costs of
those programs, under which prosecutors select nonviolent drug
offenders to participate in treatment rather than face
incarceration.

Drug traffickers and those convicted of violent crimes would not be
eligible, and offenders who do not successfully complete treatment
would then serve time in prison.

Both bills must still be considered by the Senate.

The drug penalty bill is H.R. 5312.

The treatment alternative bill is H.R. 4493.

On the Net: congressional information: http://thomas.loc.gov/