Pubdate: Fri, 25 Jul 2008
Source: Huntsville Times (AL)
Copyright: 2008 The Huntsville Times
Contact: http://www.al.com/contactus/
Website: http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/730
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/women.htm (Women)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

NEW CHIEF DA BACKS DRUG BILL

GUNTERSVILLE - As newly elected president of the Alabama District
Attorneys Association, Marshall County District Attorney Steve
Marshall said he will help promote legislation making it a felony for
pregnant women to take illegal drugs.

Marshall said a bill was introduced last year by state Rep. Jeff
McLaughlin, D-Guntersville, but failed to become law. He said
McLaughlin will reintroduce the bill, which calls for any woman who
gives birth to a child who tests positive for an illegal drug to be
charged with child abuse.

"There are a number of children already testing positive for
controlled substances," Marshall said Wednesday. The legislation, if
enacted, would help reduce that number, he said.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin