Title: An act relating to a commission on psychoactive substance control.

Brief Description: Creating a commission on psychoactive substance control.

Sponsors: Representatives Nixon, Cody, Jarrett, O'Brien, Darneille, Roberts, Tom, McDermott, Kagi, Morrell and Wood.

Brief History:

Health Care: 1/31/06, 2/2/06 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives Cody, Chair; Campbell, Vice Chair; Morrell, Vice Chair; Appleton, Clibborn, Condotta, Green, Lantz, Moeller and Schual-Berke.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 4 members: Representatives Hinkle, Ranking Minority Member; Curtis, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander and Bailey.

Staff: Dave Knutson (786-7146).

Background:

Issues around psychoactive substances touch on criminal justice, public health, children protection, medicine, law, and education systems.

Summary of Bill:

A commission on psychoactive substance control to recommend alternative approaches to the production, distribution, and control of psychoactive substances is created. The commission will consist of 12 people appointed by the Governor. The commission will report its recommendations to the Legislature by December 1, 2007.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 31, 2006.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This is a good time to review our laws regulating psychoactive drugs to determine whether they are operating efficiently and effectively.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Nixon, prime sponsor; Richard Chapin; Charles Heaney, King County Medical Society; and Roger Goodman, King County Bar Association.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.