SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6464

              As Passed Senate, February 16, 1998

Title:  An act relating to manufacture of methamphetamine.

Brief Description:  Increasing the penalty for manufacture of methamphetamine.

Sponsors:  Senators Goings, Winsley, Roach, Anderson, Patterson, Fairley, Franklin, McAuliffe, Jacobsen, Horn, Haugen, Schow, Rasmussen and Oke; by request of Governor Locke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Law & Justice:  1/27/98, 2/2/98 [DP].

Ways & Means:  2/9/98, 2/10/98 [DP].

Passed Senate, 2/16/98, 43-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Roach, Chair; Johnson, Vice Chair; Fairley, Goings, Kline, Long, McCaslin, Stevens, Thibaudeau and Zarelli.

Staff:  Aldo Melchiori (786-7439)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators West, Chair; Deccio, Vice Chair; Bauer, Fraser, Hochstatter, Kohl, Long, Loveland, McDonald, Rossi, Schow, B. Sheldon, Snyder, Spanel, Swecker, Thibaudeau and Winsley.

Staff:  Bryon Moore (786-7726)

Background:  Methamphetamine is a schedule II drug.  A person convicted of manufacturing, delivering, or possessing with the intent to manufacture or deliver methamphetamine is guilty of a B felony ranked at level VIII on the sentencing grid (21 to 27 months for a first offense).

This bill is submitted by executive request.

Summary of Bill:  The manufacture of methamphetamine is ranked at level X on the sentencing grid (51 to 68 months for a first offense).

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  The bill takes effect on July 1, 1998.

Testimony For:  A growing wave of violence accompanies this crime.  The drug is manufactured locally without much difficulty.  Over 40 percent of the methamphetamine labs have evidence of a child's presence. The labs are extremely dangerous to clean up.  Repeat offenders are a big problem.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Senator Goings, prime sponsor; Chief Annette Sandberg, Wes Rethwill, WSP; John Branham, Tacoma Police Local 6; Larry Erickson, WASPC; Joe Mathews; Russ Hauge, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys; Sandra Swanson, CWFA; Gary Griffin, WSCPO.