Pubdate: Wed, 03 Mar 2004 Source: Roanoke Times (VA) Copyright: 2004 Roanoke Times Contact: http://www.roanoke.com/roatimes/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/368 Author: Michael Sluss Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone) BILL TO RESTRICT METHADONE CLINICS CLEARS HOUSE PANEL It Would Not Affect Existing Clinics Or Facilities That Already Have Licenses And Occupancy Permits From The State, Such As A Proposed Clinic On Hershberger Road In Roanoke. RICHMOND - Legislation that would restrict the location of methadone clinics cleared a House of Delegates committee Tuesday, enabling the full House to vote on a bill that has received significant scrutiny in the Roanoke Valley and Southwest Virginia. The bill (SB 607) would prohibit a methadone clinic from opening within a half-mile radius of a school or day care center, unless the clinic operates out of a state-licensed hospital or state-owned facility. "Methadone treatment ought to be in a logical setting," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. William Wampler, R-Bristol. The legislation would not affect existing clinics or facilities that already have licenses and occupancy permits from the state, such as a proposed clinic on Hershberger Road in Roanoke. But the bill would effectively ban future clinics from most of Roanoke, according to a computer map prepared by The Roanoke Times. The House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee sent the bill to the floor on a voice vote, though some members objected to placing geographic restrictions on clinics. Opponents of Wampler's bill argued that it discriminates against addicts who need methadone treatment to stop using other drugs. Some recipients of methadone treatment already must drive several hours to get the medication, opponents said. Wampler told the committee that he had heard from parents of children who overdosed on methadone and from others who cited evidence of a "secondary market" for the medication. The House panel earlier this year shelved a similar bill (HB 304) sponsored by Del. William Fralin, R-Roanoke. Unlike Wampler's proposal, Fralin's bill would have scuttled CRC Healthgroup's plans for a treatment center on Hershberger Road. Committee members determined that it would have been unfair to apply the restrictions to a company that already had obtained a business license and certificate of occupancy. Wampler's bill also requires state officials to notify local governments and community services boards of plans for a methadone clinic within 15 days of receiving applications from prospective clinic operators. Roanoke officials complained that they knew nothing of CRC Healthgroup's plans for the Hershberger Road site until the company was well into the application process. The House last month passed legislation (HB 745) sponsored by Del. Onzlee Ware, D-Roanoke, that contained similar notification requirements but no geographic restrictions. The measure remains bottled up in a Senate committee. Because Ware's bill remains in limbo, the House committee Tuesday defeated a motion to send an identical Senate bill (SB 134) to the full House. The committee's action baffled the bill's sponsor, Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke. Edwards told the committee that he wanted his bill passed in case the House killed Wampler's more sweeping measure. But committee members said they were reluctant to send Edwards' bill to the floor while Ware's bill remained stuck in a Senate committee. "It looks like games are being played," Edwards said after the House panel tied up his bill. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom