Pubdate: Sat, 02 Jul 2005
Source: Albert Lea Tribune (MN)
Copyright: 2005 Albert Lea Tribune Inc.
Contact:  http://www.albertleatribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3521
Author: Jennifer Rogers, Tribune staff writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

NEW LAWS PASSED BY LEGISLATURE BEGIN JULY 1

Beginning July 1, it became harder for meth manufacturers - and
everyone else - to purchase cold and allergy medications in pill form
that contains ephedrine or pseudoephedrine.

Legislators agreed that one way to attack the meth problem is to limit
access to ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, key ingredients used to
manufacture meth.

The omnibus public safety law is one of five new laws that took effect
July 1, along with provisions from about a dozen others.

Products like Sudafed are now located behind the pharmacy counter and
buyers will have to ask for them, be at least 18 years old, show
identification and sign a logbook. Buyers are also limited to two
packages per transaction, not to exceed six grams.

The pharmacy at ShopKo in Albert Lea pulled ephedrine and
pseudoephedrine based products off their shelves a few weeks ago to
"help prepare our customers," said John A. Denow, pharmacy manager.

"We've found that people have been very understanding (about the
change)," said Denow. "It's the people that use it for what they
shouldn't that get upset."

Medications with ephedrine or pseudoephedrine in gel capsule or liquid
form are not restricted at this time but if meth manufacturers switch
to using those forms, then the state Board of Pharmacy could put the
same restrictions on them.

The city of Albert Lea passed an ordinance in March regulating the
sale of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. The city will now defer to the
regulations in the omnibus public safety law, according to Sandi
Behrens, city clerk.

It will now be considered a felony crime for stealing, purchasing or
possessing anhydrous ammonia to be used in the manufacturing of meth.

A written prescription from a veterinarian will be needed to purchase
any products with ephedrine or pseudoephedrine for use in animals.

Meth has been added to the definition of a narcotic drug, which gives
law enforcement more options for charging defendants.

The law criminalizes meth-related activities that impact children and
vulnerable adults and establishes a penalty of up to five years in
prison and a $10,000 fine.

Also effective July 1, a revolving loan fund was established so city
and county governments can borrow funds to clean up mini toxic waste
dumps left behind from the manufacture of meth.

Ten new agents, at a cost of $1 million each year, will be added to
the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to work exclusively on statewide
meth enforcement an investigation.

Focus on Sex Offenders

Legislators want dangerous sex offenders, like the one who allegedly
abducted and killed college student Dru Sjodin, in prison forever.

First- and second-degree criminal sexual offenders will face life in
prison without the possibility of release when their crimes involve
force, violence or a dangerous weapon, and either two or more heinous
elements exists or the offender has a previous sex offense conviction
and one heinous element exists.

Also, the law creates a new crime known as "criminal sexual predatory
conduct" that applies when an offender commits a predatory crime
motivated by sexual impulses, or as a part of a predatory pattern of
behavior with criminal sexual conduct as its goal. The statutory
maximum sentence for this offense is 25 percent longer than for the
underlying predatory crime.

Other sex offenders could be given indeterminate sentences with the
possibility of being on supervised release after serving the minimum
sentence. Several factors must be considered when placing an offender
on supervised release, including the possible risk to the community,
progress in treatment, behavior while in prison, psychological
evaluations, past criminal history and other relevant conduct of the
offender.

The law gives the Department of Human Services access to the predatory
offender registry, and requires that administrators of health care
facilities be notified is a sex offender is going to live in their
facility. Effective July 1, communication about sex offenders who come
from other states to live in Minnesota is also strengthened.

Sex offenders are barred from attending their own community
notification meetings, which are required when Level III offenders
leave prison to serve out the remaining one-third of their sentence
under supervision in the community.

A conference committee dropped House provisions for chemical
castration of some sex offenders and special license plates and
driver's licenses that would have publicly identified sex offenders.

Child Support/Custody Changes Approved

For the first time in more than two decades, the state's child support
and custody laws have received an overhaul. The legislation's sponsors
herald the new provisions as more reflective of today's family
circumstances.

The new law focuses primarily on how child support will be calculated
using the parents' combined gross income and a presumption of joint,
legal custody by the court if parents can't decide on their own
parenting plan.

Most policy provisions are effective Jan. 1, 2007, but a number of fee
changes are effective July 1, 2005.

To help cover the costs of implementing the new law, $860,000 is
appropriated for fiscal year 2006 and $450,000 in fiscal year 2007
from the General Fund to the human services commissioner. The state
will be able to recoup some of the money through some new fees,
effective July 1, 2005, and modifications to ones already being
charged. For example, a $50 fee will be added on to the fee already
charged to those filing for divorce.

Additionally, the law modifies numerous other fees relating to child
support. For example, $20 from each fee collected for modifications to
child support agreements will go into the county's general fund to
help pay for county child support enforcement efforts and $35 will be
credited to the state general fund.

Insurance Regulation Changes

A series of changes to insurance regulations, most of them technical,
are part of the 2005 omnibus insurance law.

The law will increase from $75 to $90 the fee for filing insurance
forms and premium rates that insurance companies pay to the
department. A $250 filing fee for a worker's compensation large risk
alternative rating option plan that meets a $250,000 threshold in
annual premiums from a single employer will be eliminated.

Former law required these option plans to be filed with the commerce
commissioner, but did not require certification by the insurer. The
new law will allow an insurer to charge a premium without filing it
with the commissioner if the insurer files a certification that the
premium rate is being used only with a specified employer that
generates at least $250,000 in annual workers' compensation premiums.
Violations could result in a fine of up to $100 for each day the
failure to file continues.

The initial and annual renewal licensing fee charged to data service
organizations that develop workers' compensation premium rates will
increase from $50 to $1,000. Third party administrators' licensure
will be changed from a $1,000 fee for two years to $1,500 for three
years.

Self-insurance policies will also change. State laws allow the
mandatory auto insurance requirement to be satisfied through
self-insurance under certain conditions. The new law changes the
initial application fee for motor vehicle self-insurance from $1,500
to $2,500 and the renewal period from annual to three years. The
renewal fee for political subdivisions changes from $400 per year to
$1,200 for three years, and for nongovernmental entities from $500
annually to $1,500 for three years.

A complete summary of all laws passed by the 2005 Legislature is
available online from the House Public Information Services Office at
www.house.mn. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake