Pubdate: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 Source: United Press International Copyright: 1999 United Press International SENATE OKAYS TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR DRUG SALES AUSTIN, Texas, March 23 (UPI) - The Texas Senate has passed a bill that would enhance the penalties for drug dealers who sell drugs that result in serious bodily injury or death for the buyer. State Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, said today her bill is needed because street drugs are becoming more potent, resulting in more overdoses and deaths. She says, ``In fact, there are smaller and smaller quantities of drugs that are resulting in fatal results.'' Shapiro says that as illegal drugs become more potent, ``We also must change our penal code to address these concerns.'' Under current law, drug delivery of one gram or less is punishable by a maximum of two years in a state jail. Under Shapiro's bill, drug sales of less than one gram would be enhanced to a third degree felony if the buyer suffers bodily injury or death. The penalty would be two to 10 years in prison. If the transaction involved one to four grams, the charge would be enhanced from a second degree to a first degree felony, which is punishable by a minimum of 15 years. Shapiro says her bill ``will enable prosecutors to seek enhanced penalties if it is proven that the sale of the drug resulted in serious bodily injury or death.'' The measure now goes to the House. - --- MAP posted-by: Patrick Henry