Source: Orange County Register (CA) Contact: http://www.ocregister.com/ Pubdate: 29 Aug 1998 Author: Stuart Pfeifer and Martin Wisckol OCR LEGISLATURE OKS LIMIT ON INFORMANTS Law Enforcement:The bill was prompted by the slaying of a Brea teen who worked undercover for police. The death of a teen-age police informant from Brea that sparked controversy over using juveniles as undercover agents led state lawmakers Friday to send a bill to Gov. Pete Wilson that would limit the practice. "It's just good policy. We shouldn't be putting kids in harm's way to fight our war on drugs," said Assemblyman Scott Baugh, R-Huntington Beach, who authored the bill in reaction to the March beating and strangulation of Chad MacDonald. The state Assembly voted 70-1 to send the bill to Wilson, who is expected to sign it into law. The Senate voted 37-0 for "Chad's Law" on Thursday. The bill would prohibit police from using anyone 12 or younger as an undercover informant. Teen-agers 13 to 17 could work as informants with the approval of their parents and a judge. MacDonald was 17 when Brea police arrested him in January for possessing about one-half ounce of methamphetamine. At the urging of police and with his mother's approval, MacDonald agreed to work undercover for police instead of facing prosecution in juvenile court. He made one buy - while detectives listened through a hidden "wire" - and gave police information about other dealers. MacDonald was no longer working as an informant when he was killed, but witnesses said the killers called him a "snith." Orange County law enforcement agencies have said they support the legislation because it offers them guidance. MacDonald's survivors have sued Brea police, contending detectives misled the youth and his mother. Brea police have denied that. - --- Checked-by: Pat Dolan