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Drink-spiking bill would raise criminal penalties and require test strips; committee rolls measure for three weeks
Summary
Representative Freeman presented HB 23-01 to increase penalties for drink spiking and require licensed establishments to provide inexpensive drink-testing strips on request. Members expressed concern about imposing a statutory duty on businesses; the committee voted to roll the bill three weeks for further work.
Representative Freeman framed HB 23-01 as a two-part response to drink spiking: strengthened criminal penalties and a prevention requirement for licensed establishments. Freeman said the bill would make involuntary intoxication a class D felony, bodily injury a class C felony, and serious bodily injury or death a class B felony for drink spiking. He also described inexpensive testing strips that "change color" when dipped in a drink, and said the ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Commission) could set rules for device standards.
Several members supported the criminal-penalty portion while expressing concern about the statutory requirement that businesses provide strips. Leader Lambert suggested a grant or incentive program rather than an unconditional statutory mandate, warning that businesses might be penalized if they run out of strips. After debate and an objection, the committee voted to roll HB 23-01 for three weeks to allow the sponsor to work with stakeholders and possibly file amendments.
