FriscoLady
03-22-2005, 03:48 PM
A House bill would allow an extra five years in prison for offenses near
places of worship.
By PERRY BEEMAN
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
March 22, 2005
People caught in illegal drug activity near churches and other religious
institutions could face an extra five years in prison under legislation approved
Monday by the Iowa House.
Backers said House File 254, which passed 87-11, is part of a one-two punch
of anti-drug legislation that also includes a measure approved last week making
it harder to buy ingredients to make methamphetamine.
The new bill applies to all illegal drugs. It would give judges the
discretion to add five years in prison to other penalties if someone makes, distributes
or possesses with intent to distribute illegal drugs within 1,000 feet of
"religious institutions," which would join parks and other public places such as
pools, schools and recreation centers, and marked school buses, in zones
affected by the law.
The few critics, led by Rep. Ed Fallon, a Des Moines Democrat, said the
effort to broaden the penalties is misguided and expensive. A cost analysis by the
nonpartisan Legislative Service Agency said the new law would lead to 1,200
new inmates a year by 2010. The agency predicted a new prison would be required
by the 2008 budget year, at a construction cost of $45 million and annual
operating cost of $28 million.
"Do you really support the bill?" Fallon asked Republican Rep. Dwayne Alons
of Hull, who led debate. "If this is what you want, how will you pay?"
Alons said the cost analysis was flawed because other legislation, including
the anti-meth bill to be signed into law today, would make it harder to make
drugs here. He added: "How many of our vulnerable children would you like to
leave unprotected?"
Fallon said setting a 1,000-foot buffer around "religious institutions" would
cover much of the state. He asked Alons how much of Iowa the new zones would
cover. Alons couldn't answer.
Fallon accused Republicans of pushing a bill that is unlikely to pass and
added that the state drug-policy office opposed the new measure. Officials from
that agency weren't available, and Matt Paul, spokesman for Gov. Tom Vilsack,
also a Democrat, said he was unaware of the bill and declined to comment.
The bill defines religious institutions as having an active congregation.
Records show there are 4,450 congregations in the state.
places of worship.
By PERRY BEEMAN
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
March 22, 2005
People caught in illegal drug activity near churches and other religious
institutions could face an extra five years in prison under legislation approved
Monday by the Iowa House.
Backers said House File 254, which passed 87-11, is part of a one-two punch
of anti-drug legislation that also includes a measure approved last week making
it harder to buy ingredients to make methamphetamine.
The new bill applies to all illegal drugs. It would give judges the
discretion to add five years in prison to other penalties if someone makes, distributes
or possesses with intent to distribute illegal drugs within 1,000 feet of
"religious institutions," which would join parks and other public places such as
pools, schools and recreation centers, and marked school buses, in zones
affected by the law.
The few critics, led by Rep. Ed Fallon, a Des Moines Democrat, said the
effort to broaden the penalties is misguided and expensive. A cost analysis by the
nonpartisan Legislative Service Agency said the new law would lead to 1,200
new inmates a year by 2010. The agency predicted a new prison would be required
by the 2008 budget year, at a construction cost of $45 million and annual
operating cost of $28 million.
"Do you really support the bill?" Fallon asked Republican Rep. Dwayne Alons
of Hull, who led debate. "If this is what you want, how will you pay?"
Alons said the cost analysis was flawed because other legislation, including
the anti-meth bill to be signed into law today, would make it harder to make
drugs here. He added: "How many of our vulnerable children would you like to
leave unprotected?"
Fallon said setting a 1,000-foot buffer around "religious institutions" would
cover much of the state. He asked Alons how much of Iowa the new zones would
cover. Alons couldn't answer.
Fallon accused Republicans of pushing a bill that is unlikely to pass and
added that the state drug-policy office opposed the new measure. Officials from
that agency weren't available, and Matt Paul, spokesman for Gov. Tom Vilsack,
also a Democrat, said he was unaware of the bill and declined to comment.
The bill defines religious institutions as having an active congregation.
Records show there are 4,450 congregations in the state.