Pubdate: Sat, 01 Jan 2005 Source: Peoria Journal Star (IL) Copyright: 2005 Peoria Journal Star Contact: http://pjstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/338 Author: Adriana Colindres Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) NEW YEAR BRINGING A BUNDLE OF NEW LAWS Illinois Raises School Dropout Age - And Minimum Wage SPRINGFIELD - A state law that takes effect today changes Illinois' high school dropout age from 16 to 17, keeping some students in the education system for at least one extra year. It is one of more than 120 new laws taking effect today. Today also marks the effective date for a $1 increase in the state's minimum wage, bringing the new level to $6.50 an hour. A 35-cent-an-hour minimum wage increase was implemented on Jan. 1, 2004. At least three of the new laws target the state's continuing problems with methamphetamine, a highly addictive drug that can be manufactured with household ingredients. One measure establishes two new criminal offenses: controlled substance manufacturing arson and aggravated controlled substance manufacturing arson. Tazewell County State's Attorney Stewart Umholtz testified for the bill as it made its way through the legislative process. Aggravated controlled substance manufacturing arson, the more serious of the two offenses, will apply if the volatile process of making meth injures another person or if the process damages a building where someone lives. Someone convicted of that offense could be sentenced to a prison term of up to 50 years. Another new law restricts the sale of certain over-the-counter medications, such as Sudafed and other cold remedies, which can be used to manufacture the drug. Individuals will be barred from buying more than two packages of such medication during a single purchase. Retailers will have to follow new rules on how to display medication that contains ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, an ingredient in meth. A third new law expands the definition of child abuse or neglect to include the manufacturing of methamphetamine when children are present. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin