DATE-RAPE DRUG USE PENALTY COULD INCREASE

Iowa legislators will debate a stronger penalty for users and handlers of
date-rape drugs and the reinstatement of funds for victims of sexual and
domestic abuse in the coming weeks.

If passed, the bill would make manufacturing, delivering, possessing or
conspiring to manufacture, deliver or possess fluitrazepam, commonly known
as rohypnol, a class D felony. Currently, it is considered an aggravated
misdemeanor to use or handle the drug.

The bill passed out of the House Public Safety Committee unanimously on
Feb. 18. The House of Representatives is scheduled to debate increasing the
penalty on Monday, said Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames.

A class D felony includes a maximum confinement of five years and a maximum
fine of $7,500. An aggravated misdemeanor is accompanied with a maximum of
two years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $5,000.

Heddens said she supports making the penalty for the date-rape drug more
severe.

"I do think we need to send a message that this is not an OK thing to do,"
she said.

Heddens said rohypnol is illegal in the United States and is only used in
Europe to treat people with severe insomnia.

Jane Greimann, D-Ames, said crimes involving the date-rape drug are being
reported more often.

"The fact that more of these crimes are being reported has alerted
everyone," she said.

Jim Kurtenbach, R-Ames, said he believes the House of Representatives will
pass the bill.

"If it came out of the committee unanimously, my guess is that it will pass
out of the House easily," he said.

Kim Gordon, director of the Iowa Right to Life Committee in Des Moines,
said she believes stiffening the penalty is the right thing to do.

"I don't think you can have too stiff of a penalty for anyone who would
consider utilizing that drug," she said.

Greimann said advocates against sexual abuse and domestic violence
expressed their concerns for funding in these areas to House Democrats on
Feb. 26.

Kurtenbach said the advocates for sexual and domestic abuse prevention are
asking for $2 million to fund assault and crisis centers.

He said the $2 million was removed from the budget last year because of
lack of financial resources, causing a lack of funding for these assault
and crisis centers.

"It's exactly the same question we'll have again this year," Kurtenbach
said of the funding problems.

"It's too early for anyone to make promises or guess whether that funding
will be restored."

Greimann said she has high hopes for these funds but remains skeptical
about their availability.

Beth Barnhill, executive director of the Iowa Coalition against Sexual
Assault in Des Moines, said the funds cut from the budget last year caused
15-20 percent of domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers to
remove services or close entirely.