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House approves additional enforcement funding for meth lab response amid process debate
Summary
HB 199 passed the House 53–18 to provide added resources for Drug Lab and Precursor Act enforcement, a follow-up to last year’s funding; supporters stressed rising clandestine lab incidents and need for investigators, while critics objected to using floor appropriations rather than committee budgeting.
Representative Alemont Tyler described HB 199 as the follow-up appropriation to bolster enforcement of the Drug Lab and Precursor Act and to address a rise in clandestine methamphetamine labs. He said clandestine lab counts rose from 148 to 224 (a 51% increase) and called for additional resources to expand enforcement capacity. "If your child...decide to experiment with methamphetamines, it only takes one or two times for them to become an addict," Tyler warned.
Opponents, including Representative Tanner and Representative Chard, urged that appropriations be handled in committees rather than by floor bills. They argued the appropriations process should set priorities and questioned whether the department had sought the funding through the governor’s budget. Supporters, including Representative Buckner and Representative Dayton, said response capacity was urgently stretched and the funds would pay for needed agents; Representative Buckner said last week’s DEA briefing showed a spike in labs and urged action.
After debate, the House passed HB 199 by a vote of 53 yes to 18 no and referred it to the Senate. Sponsors said the funds were intended to create ongoing positions and operations to combat the meth problem.
