STATE KOs TOUGHEST DRUG LAWS

State lawmakers scrapped some of the harshest Rockefeller drug laws
yesterday - slashing sentences for nonviolent offenders and giving hundreds
of convicts a long-awaited shot at freedom.

The compromise bill passed by the Senate and Assembly guts the most
draconian penalties on the books but stops short of a full repeal of
statutes enacted into law by Gov. Nelson Rockefeller in the 1970s.

Gov. Pataki, who thanked hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons for helping to forge
a deal, called the bill a "historic" measure and promised to sign it into law.

"It reflects a greater knowledge than what we had 30 years ago" about how
to deal with the scourge of drug use, he said.

Others were less enthusiastic, saying the legislation is but a small step
in the right direction.

"This is not a huge win, but the fact that something is happening is better
than nothing," said reform advocate Randy Credico.

In the most dramatic change, the mandatory 15-years-to-life prison term was
scaled back to eight years - and some 400 offenders serving the max can now
petition a judge for reduced sentences and possible release.

"This news is going to be one helluva Christmas present for a lot of
people," said Wanda Best, a Manhattan woman whose husband is doing 15 to
life. "It's a godsend for a lot of boys and girls. Even if Santa Claus
doesn't come to their house, at least their mommy or daddy will be coming
home."

Under the old laws, Best's husband, Darryl, who was convicted in 2001 of
accepting a FedEx parcel of cocaine, would have to serve at least 15 years.
With yesterday's vote, he might be out after seven. "Instead of my being 65
when he gets out, maybe I can be 60," his wife said.

State leaders have long agreed that the Rockefeller laws - with their
mandatory minimums and life terms - are excessively tough on low-level drug
offenders.

But the Democrat-controlled Assembly and the GOP-led Senate have been at
odds over how far to go in reforming the laws.

Republicans only wanted to roll back the longest sentences, while Democrats
were pushing to reduce terms for less serious drug crimes, too.

The GOP got its way after agreeing to shelve proposals that would have
upped the punishment for drug kingpins and given judges more discretion at
sentencing.

The bill was approved by the Assembly, 96-41, and the Senate, 53-6, and
some pols on both sides of the aisle were dissatisfied.

Assemblyman David Townsend Jr. (R-Oneida) derided the reforms as a
"get-out-of-jail-free card" that will free the "worst of the worst."

State Sen. Thomas Duane (D-Manhattan), on the other hand, was incredulous
that the bill contained no funding for drug treatment programs. "We should
be ashamed of ourselves," he said. "Rockefeller drug reform - ha! - I don't
think so."