SCHOCK PROPOSING METH LEGISLATION, EXPERT PANEL

PEORIA - Anticipating reform to the state's methamphetamine laws, state
Rep. Aaron Schock wants a panel of experts taking charge of the lawmaking
process.

Schock, R-Peoria, announced Monday he has introduced legislation creating a
Methamphetamine Control Law Commission, a group that would look at
replacing, updating and toughening laws targeting the increasing "toxic
atmosphere" crystal meth has brought to Illinois' communities.

"Basically, this is a game plan for the state to deal with the meth
crisis," Schock said Monday during a news conference at the Peoria County
Sheriff's Department. "As a commission, you have the experts . . . who
understand how to deal with meth and who will be best to come up with a
solution."

Although the legislation has yet to even be assigned to a committee, the
commission Schock is proposing would consist of prosecutors, law
enforcement officials and social service advocates.

Throughout the state, police agencies have been bogged down by the growing
number of clandestine meth labs and related crimes.

According to Illinois State Police, the troopers dismantled 959 meth labs
in 2004 compared to 403 in 2000 - an increase of 125 percent.

Locally, Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy said the number of arrests
associated with the drug continue to climb each year.

In one instance, McCoy said some individuals had taken a back seat out of a
car and were "cooking meth" while driving down the road.

"Stiffer penalties . . . I think will have an impact on people who choose
to manufacture, sell and use meth," McCoy said.

Police say methamphetamine, commonly known as crystal meth, crank or ice is
extremely addictive and can be made with items commonly found in grocery
and hardware stores. Also, the manufacturing process, highly explosive, has
been known to kill its makers.

To curb some meth-making, Illinois has created laws regarding the number of
certain types of cold medicine people can purchase at one time, in addition
to requiring retailers to place some of the most popular products with
meth-making ingredients behind store counters.

Also, the Illinois State Police announced last week the formation of six
dedicated meth response teams which will exclusively investigate, seize and
dismantle meth labs across the state.

Still, Schock says a comprehensive law is needed to combat the
"out-of-control crisis," rather than amending current laws in a "piecemeal
fashion."