FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 22, 2005

House, Senate agree to send major anti-meth bill to conference

OLYMPIA -- Today the state Senate agreed with the House and voted to go to conference committee to resolve differences between the two bodies on Rep. Tom Campbell's anti-meth bill. The House had approved a call for a conference committee on Tuesday.

The House appointed Rep. Tom Campbell (R-Roy), Rep. Dawn Morrell (D-Puyallup) and Rep. Richard Curtis (R-La Center).  The Senate appointed Sen. Adam Kline (D-Seattle), Sen. Jim Kastama (D-Puyallup) and Sen. Stan Johnson (R-Kent). Campbell is the bill's prime sponsor.

Campbell said the conference committee will meet at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon to resolve differences so the House and Senate can pass a "meaningful bill" before the session ends on Sunday.

House Bill 2266, as originally written, would require stores to place certain cold remedies that are used as precursors in the manufacture of illegal methamphetamine to be placed behind the store's counter, requiring a clerk to get the product for customers. It would require a photo ID to prove the purchaser is at least 18 years old and the customer would have to sign a log book to note their purchase.

"All three requirements are absolutely necessary for the legislation to effectively prevent those who illegally manufacture meth, a devastating drug, from purchasing or shoplifting those medications that have ephedrine, pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine," Campbell said.

The Senate amended version would only require a single-ingredient product to be behind the counter.

He said he is hopeful that the two chambers will join to pass a "meaningful bill to protect our citizens from the dangers of methamphetamine".

"We need to follow the example of Oklahoma where they enacted similar legislation last year that has seen an 80 percent reduction in meth lab raids since their  bill went into effect," Campbell said. "Restricting access to precursor drugs that are often sold over-the-counter in convenience stores greatly reduces the ability of illegal manufacturers to obtain their main ingredients. It worked in Oklahoma and we can make it work here."

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