NEWS FROM
Jil Tracy
State Representative
93rd District

Rep. Tracy Passes Two Bills that Continue the Fight Against Methamphetamine

For Immediate Release
Contact Rep. Jil Tracy
(217) 223-0833

March 7 , 2008

Springfield, IL…This week State Representative Jil Tracy (R-Mt. Sterling) continued her fight against methamphetamine by passing two pieces of legislation out of committee that would curb unlawful access to the meth making ingredient anhydrous ammonia.  “In the last few years we have seen a significant decline in the production of methamphetamine throughout the state.  We need to continue to strengthen laws that limit the unlawful access to the volatile chemicals used for production of the drug in order to ensure we stay one step ahead of the problem,” said Rep. Tracy.

Many drug-enforcement officers in the Midwest fear a resurgence of the extremely addictive drug methamphetamine due to extreme federal funding cuts. The federal budget for the upcoming year proposes to eliminate $170 million for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, the predominant program used to finance drug enforcement in individual states.  According to a Chicago Tribune news article on March 4th Terry Lemming, the drug-enforcement coordinator for the Illinois State Police, stated these cuts couldn’t come at a worse time.  “After all the success we’ve started to have, this could set the Midwest back a good 20 years in our fight against this drug,” said Lemming.

In light of the slashes in federal assistance Rep. Tracy feels the state must step up the fight against methamphetamine.  House Bill 5942 would appropriate an additional $250,000 to the Department of Agriculture for the Anhydrous Ammonia Security Grant Program.  “The grant program is an effective cost preventive measure and a great way to eliminate unlawful access to one of the main ingredients in meth production. The additional $250,000 will allow more applicants to take advantage of the program,” said Tracy.  “The Anhydrous Security Grant Program provides funding to purchase such things as video surveillance, locks for anhydrous tanks and additives that make the chemical useless for producing the drug.  So far there have been zero anhydrous thefts at facilities that have taken advantage of the program.”

Representative Tracy also passed House Bill 5901, which will include anhydrous ammonia in the definition of a methamphetamine precursor under the Methamphetamine Precursor Act with possession punishable by a Class 1 felony.  This legislation exempts farmers and their agents from violations related to possession, delivery or procurement of anhydrous ammonia.

“This bill corrects a loophole that remained in the current methamphetamine precursor law,” Rep. Tracy said.  “It will ensure those who use anhydrous for the legitimate purpose of fertilizing fields are not punished, while also giving law enforcement the legal recourse to charge individuals who intend to use the chemical for the production of methamphetamine.”

HB5901 and HB5942 now move to the House floor for further consideration.