METH BILLS HEADED FOR VOTE IN VIRGINIA HOUSE

Delegate Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, reported Friday that two
methamphetamine-control bills are headed to the floor of the House of
Delegates of the Virginia General Assembly.

Kilgore worked with the state attorney general's office - his twin brother,
former Attorney General Jerry Kilgore and now full-time Republican
gubernatorial candidate, pushed the legislation - as well as Delegate Bill
Carrico, R-Grayson, and chairman of the Courts of Justice Committee Bob
McDonnell to guide HB 1974 and HB 2438 through the House of Delegates.

Both bills aim to deter illegal meth production and to protect law
enforcement officers from exposure to toxic materials and environments.

Kilgore said Virginia has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of
clandestine labs discovered in recent years, and the legislation would help
eliminate the meth problem. Of the 81 labs discovered last year in
Virginia, Kilgore said the majority were located west of Roanoke.

Officers who respond to the labs are exposed to a wide array of hazardous
chemicals. Kilgore said the legislation allows officers to make a lab
seizure prior to production to reduce the health risk to officers and
potential contamination of the surrounding area.

HB 1974 prohibits the possession of certain items utilized to manufacture
meth coupled with the intent to manufacture. The "Precursor Bill"
stipulates that possession of two or more of the substances used to
manufacture meth will constitute a Class 6 felony. A meth precursor drug
would be ephedrine or pseudoephedrine products generally found in cold and
allergy medications or weight-loss supplements.

HB 2438 increases the minimum sentence for illegally manufacturing meth
from five to 10 years in prison. The bill also authorizes restitution to
innocent property owners to recover expenses required to clean up their
properties. The bill also provides a separate punishment for adults who
expose children to harmful byproducts of meth production.

"We are increasing the penalty for exposing children because it is one
thing to risk your own health, but the commonwealth owes a duty to protect
those that might not be able to protect themselves: namely, children,"
Kilgore said.