SENATE OKAYS TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR DRUG SALES

AUSTIN, Texas, March 23 (UPI) - The Texas Senate has passed a bill
that would enhance the penalties for drug dealers who sell drugs that
result in serious bodily injury or death for the buyer.

State Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, said today her bill is needed
because street drugs are becoming more potent, resulting in more
overdoses and deaths.

She says, ``In fact, there are smaller and smaller quantities of drugs
that are resulting in fatal results.'' Shapiro says that as illegal
drugs become more potent, ``We also must change our penal code to
address these concerns.''

Under current law, drug delivery of one gram or less is punishable by
a maximum of two years in a state jail. Under Shapiro's bill, drug
sales of less than one gram would be enhanced to a third degree
felony if the buyer suffers bodily injury or death. The penalty would
be two to 10 years in prison.

If the transaction involved one to four grams, the charge would be
enhanced from a second degree to a first degree felony, which is
punishable by a minimum of 15 years.

Shapiro says her bill ``will enable prosecutors to seek enhanced
penalties if it is proven that the sale of the drug resulted in
serious bodily injury or death.''

The measure now goes to the House.