'DATERAPE DRUG' BILL GOES BEFORE ASSEMBLY

Madison A bill expanding Wisconsin's sexual assault law to include
victims under the influence of "date rape drugs" was approved by a
legislative committee Tuesday.

The Assembly Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee approved the
bill, 112. Committee chairman Robert Goetsch (RJuneau) said he expects
the bill to be debated on the Assembly floor next week.

The bill, written by Rep. Timothy Hoven (RPort Washington) is a
response to the use of Rohypnol, known as the "daterape drug" or the
"forget pill," which is most often slipped into a victim's beverage. It
causes intoxicating effects, including amnesia and blackout, that make
the victim prone to sexual assault.

Although not legal for sale in the United States and Canada, it is legal
in other countries and is used to treat severe sleep disorders, anxiety,
convulsions and muscle tension. The small, white tablets, known on the
street as "roofies," are odorless, colorless and tasteless and about
10 to 20 times more powerful than Valium.

The bill would make it a felony to possess Rohypnol and increases the
maximum penalty to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Drug Enforcement Agency figures show more than 2,400 cases across the
nation in which the drug has been used in rapes or attempted rapes since
1993, said Hoven.

"These drugs simply wipe out the victim's memory of the assault," Hoven
said.

Cheryl Luria, a spokeswoman for HoffmannLaRoche, the manufacturer of
Rohypnol, said the company supports legislation to strengthen sexual
assault laws to cover use of the drug.

"We believe strongly in prosecution of criminals who use substances in
the commission of sexual assaults," said Luria. "The reports of
Rohypnol's misuse are genuinely troubling to us."

Luria said HoffmannLa Roche has added a chemical to the drug so it will
turn bright blue when dissolved in liquid. The company has cut down on
the number of distributors and initiated a public information campaign
on the dangers of date rape drugs.

The two committee votes against the bill were cast by former
prosecutors.

Rep. William Murat (DStevens Point) said he was concerned about a
Goetsch amendment to the bill that excludes alcohol as an intoxicant.
Murat said alcohol is the most common way the drug is administered to
unsuspecting victims.

"If we exclude alcohol as it would apply to this bill, it would be
almost impossible to get a conviction because the defense would say the
victim was under the influence of alcohol, not the date rape drug," said
Murat.

Murat said he will draft an amendment to include alcohol in the bill as
an intoxicant if it is used with the drugs.

Rep. Gregory Huber (DWausau) said he was surprised by Goetsch's
decision to vote on the bill following Tuesday's public hearing. Huber,
a former assistant district attorney in Marathon and Outagamie counties,
said he will probably vote for it but wanted more time to consider
public testimony.