GALLAGHER PROPOSES TOUGHER LAWS ON METHAMPHETAMINES

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher will ask lawmakers
to pass several proposals to find and punish and methamphetamine producers,
he said Monday.

Gallagher, who serves as the state fire marshal, cited fires caused by meth
"cooking" and the risk to firefighters because of chemicals in meth labs.

Among the ideas is the creation of a strike force comprised of
representatives from the Gov.'s Office of Drug Control, the State Fire
Marshal's Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Department
of Health and the Department of Children & Families.

Gallagher, who is running for the Republican nomination for governor,
called for felony charges against meth lab operators if a firefighter is
killed or injured in responding to an emergency. Also, he wants people
charged with producing methamphetamines held without bond while awaiting trial.

Property owners would also have to disclose to potential buyers or renters
if a home or apartments was previously used to produce the drug. Gallagher
also proposed using money seized from people convicted of making the drug
to cleanup sites used to manufacture it.

Gallagher is seeking lawmakers willing to draft a bill to include the
proposals.

"I'm laying out a comprehensive legislative agenda that I believe offers us
our best chance to beat the spread of this drug before it grows totally out
of control," Gallagher said.