Huber bill to increase meth dealer jail sentences gains momentum

A bill by Assemblymember Alyson Huber is one step closer to becoming law after passing the Senate Public Safety Committee.



AB 640 would enhance current sentences on individuals convicted of selling methamphetamine by imposing a minimum jail term of 120 days as a condition of probation, similar to penalties currently faced by cocaine and heroin dealers.



"Methamphetamine use is at a crisis point in the state, and in my own district, meth has a greater impact on public safety than other drugs," Huber said. "One of the ways we can break the cycle of use is by cracking down on the dealers that sell the drugs. If the meth pushers are behind bars, drug addicts and drug infested communities can cleanup and break the cycle of drug abuse."



Californians make up 40 percent of all meth treatment admissions nationwide. While estimates are difficult to confirm, data suggests that more than 2 million Californians age 12 or older (7.3 percent) have used methamphetamine at least once in their lifetime.

A narcotics task force team in Amador County reported 118 investigations in 2008, 46 (39%) of which involved meth. By contrast they had eight heroin cases, and one cocaine case.



"I have seen first hand the devastating impact meth has on our communities," said Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan, who supports the bill. "Like so many other communities in this state and in the nation, we have found methamphetamine to be the underlying cause of such criminal offenses as domestic violence and child endangerment. I applaud Assemblymember Huber for her commitment to public safety and look forward to continuing to work with her to improve the safety of our communities.

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Current law requires those convicted of the sale of cocaine, heroin, or PCP to serve at least 180 days in jail as a condition of probation, but existing law does not have a similar provision for those convicted of the sale of methamphetamine. Therefore, a person convicted of the sale of methamphetamine could be granted probation and not serve one day in jail.



AB 640 will now go to the Senate Appropriations Committee. For more information on Huber's efforts to improve public safety, visit www.asm.ca.gov/huber.

Excerpted from www.ledger-dispatch.com