METH CRACKDOWN BILL GOES TO OWENS

A bill that Gov. Bill Owens asked Colorado lawmakers to enact this year to
crack down on methamphetamine and protect children was on its way to his
desk Monday.

The bill, HB 1169, expands the definition of child abuse and neglect to
include incidents in which youngsters are in a home where illegal drugs are
being manufactured.

"It's part of the governor's package of bills that he has asked for in the
fight against illegal drugs and he is expected to sign it," said Dan
Hopkins, the governor's spokesman.

Although the bill includes illegal drugs, authorities said they need it to
protect children caught up in the expanding meth trade.

There were 468 meth labs shut down last year. Officials could not say how
many children were living in homes with those labs.