HOUSE PANEL TO HEAR ABOUT 'COCAINE MOM' LAW

Waukesha -- Wisconsin's new "cocaine mom" law will get some national
attention later this month when two state legislators and a Waukesha County
official testify before a congressional subcommittee.

State Sen. Joanne Huelsman (R-Waukesha) and state Rep. Bonnie Ladwig
(R-Racine) will testify July 23 before a House panel and will be
accompanied by William Domina, Waukesha County assistant corporation counsel.

Domina represented the county in its efforts to hold a pregnant
drug-abusing woman in treatment.

Huelsman said Tuesday that the subcommittee is interested in the law's
non-punitive language that is intended to help pregnant women who are drug
or alcohol abusers.

"Our whole goal was not to require or allow for jailing or prison time for
pregnant women who are drug or alcohol users," Huelsman said.

In the Waukesha case, a pregnant cocaine abuser named Angela was ordered
into detention to protect her fetus. The woman appealed her detention and
in April 1997 the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled the detention had been
illegal. Lawmakers responded by passing the so-called "cocaine mom" bill,
which allows judges to order pregnant women who are chronic abusers of
alcohol or drugs into a treatment center until they give birth.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Tommy Thompson at a Waukesha County
Courthouse ceremony last month.

"Untreated and chronic abuse of alcohol and drugs during pregnancy is a
devastating public health problem," Huelsman said.

Huelsman, Ladwig and Domina will appear before the Subcommittee on National
Security, International Affairs and Criminal Justice.

"Subcommittee members are interested in the social costs of
non-intervention," Ladwig said.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski