Amendment ASA2-AB183

LRBs0096/4

MGD:wlj:jf

2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

ASSEMBLY SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 2, TO 2005 ASSEMBLY BILL 183

May 10, 2005 - Offered by Representatives Rhoades, Pettis and Lamb.

AB183-ASA2,2,2 An Act to renumber 961.437, 961.49, 961.61 and 961.62; to renumber and amend 450.07 (4) (b); to amend 101.10 (title), 895.555 (1), 938.34 (14s) (am) (intro.), 939.62 (2m) (a) 2m. d., 939.62 (2m) (d), 961.11 (6) (a), 961.22 (3) (title), 961.23 (1), 961.23 (2), 961.23 (3), 961.23 (4), 961.23 (5) and 961.49 (title); and to create 101.10 (3) (f), 111.335 (1) (cs) 5., 125.12 (2) (ag) 5m., 125.12 (2) (ag) 6m., 125.12 (4) (ag) 7m., 125.12 (4) (ag) 8m., 450.07 (4) (b) 1., 450.07 (4) (b) 2., 939.32 (1) (g), 939.62 (2m) (a) 2m. am., 961.01 (11t), 961.01 (12t), 961.01 (20c), 961.01 (20e), 961.22 (2m), 961.23 (6), 961.23 (8), 961.235, 961.41 (3j), 961.452, 961.453, 961.49 (2m), 961.65, 973.017 (8) (a) 3. and 973.017 (8) (c) of the statutes; relating to: pseudoephedrine and other materials used to produce methamphetamine and rules regarding the storage of drugs and drug products and providing penalties.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This substitute amendment makes a number of changes in the law relating to pseudoephedrine and other materials used to make the controlled substance methamphetamine.

Classification of pseudoephedrine products as controlled substances

Under current law, each controlled substance is classified in one of five separate schedules. The classification is based on: 1) whether there is a currently accepted medical use for the drug; 2) the drug's potential for being abused; and 3) the nature of the psychological or physical dependence that use of the drug may produce. Controlled substances that have a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use are included in schedule I. Controlled substances that have an accepted medical use and that have the lowest potential for abuse and produce the least dependence when compared with other controlled substances are included in schedule V. (Methamphetamine is included in schedule II.)

In general, a schedule I controlled substance may not be dispensed, even with a prescription. A schedule II, III, or IV controlled substance may be dispensed, but only with a prescription. A schedule V controlled substance may be dispensed without a prescription, but only a registered pharmacist may sell it at retail and only then, in most cases, in certain specified amounts. In addition, the pharmacist must record the name and address of the purchaser of a schedule V controlled substance and the quantity of the product sold.

Penalties for crimes relating to schedule I and II controlled substances are, in general, more severe than those relating to other controlled substances. Penalties for crimes relating to schedule V controlled substances are generally the least severe. To illustrate, unlawful delivery of heroin (a schedule I controlled substance) is a Class C, D, E, or F felony, depending on the amount of the drug involved, while unlawful delivery of any schedule V controlled substance is a Class I felony, regardless of the amount involved.

Under this substitute amendment, pseudoephedrine products are classified as schedule V controlled substances. The substitute amendment defines a "pseudoephedrine product" as any product containing pseudoephedrine unless: 1) the Controlled Substances Board (CSB) has determined that the product cannot be used readily in the manufacture of methamphetamine; or 2) the pseudoephedrine is in a liquid or in a soft, liquid-filled gelatin capsule, but not if the CSB has determined that the liquid or gelatin capsule can be used readily in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

The substitute amendment also establishes a number of restrictions on the sale of pseudoephedrine products in conjunction with its classification as a schedule V controlled substance. First, no person may purchase more than seven and a half grams of a pseudoephedrine product within a 30-day period (the "quantity restriction"). Second, a person purchasing a pseudoephedrine product must present a photo ID at the time of the purchase. Third, a pharmacist must sign a record of the sale. Fourth, pharmacists must maintain records relating to sales of pseudoephedrine products for at least two years in an electronic or paper format. The records, however, are to be made available only to a pharmacist or a law enforcement officer. Fifth, the substitute amendment prohibits a person from purchasing or selling a pseudoephedrine product if the purchaser is under 18 (the "age restriction"). At the same time, the substitute amendment also creates an exception to the requirement that all retail sales of schedule V controlled substances be made by a registered pharmacist. Under the exception, a person working under the direction of a registered pharmacist may sell pseudoephedrine products.

As noted above, the unlawful delivery of any schedule V controlled substance is a Class I felony. (See the table near the end of this analysis for the penalties that apply to felonies created in this substitute amendment.) This would include a sale of a pseudoephedrine product in violation of any of the restrictions established under current law or under the substitute amendment. But a person has a defense to such a prosecution involving a pseudoephedrine product if the person did not knowingly or recklessly violate the applicable restriction and either: 1) he or she reports it to a law enforcement officer within 30 days thereafter; or 2) the violation stemmed from the conduct of one or his or her employees, but only if the person had provided training to the employee regarding those restrictions. The substitute amendment also provides a defense to a prosecution based on a violation of the quantity restriction for pseudoephedrine products if: 1) the purchaser presented a fake ID that an ordinary and prudent person would think was legitimate; and 2) the sale was made in good faith, in reasonable reliance on the ID card and the appearance of the purchaser, and with the belief that the ID card contained the purchaser's true name and address. In addition, the substitute amendment provides a defense to a prosecution based on a violation of the age restriction for pseudoephedrine products if: 1) the purchaser presented an ID card indicating that he or she was 18 or over; 2) an ordinary and prudent person would believe that the purchaser, based on his or her appearance, was 18 or over; and 3) the sale was made in good faith, in reasonable reliance on the ID card and the appearance of the purchaser, and with the belief that the purchaser was 18 or over. If a person raises one of these defenses, he or she must prove each element by a preponderance of the evidence.

Additional crimes relating to pseudoephedrine purchases

The substitute amendment creates three new crimes related to pseudoephedrine products. First, the substitute amendment prohibits a person from purchasing more than seven and a half grams of a pseudoephedrine product within a 30-day period, other than by purchasing it in person from a pharmacy or pharmacist. A person who violates this prohibition is guilty of a Class I felony. This prohibition does not apply to purchases by a physician, dentist, veterinarian, or pharmacist or to purchases that are authorized by a physician, dentist, or veterinarian. Second, the substitute amendment prohibits purchases of pseudoephedrine products made to enable a person to avoid the quantity restriction. A person who knowingly uses another person to do so is guilty of a Class I felony, unless he or she uses an individual who is under 18 to do so. In that case, the person is guilty of a Class H felony. Third, the substitute amendment prohibits a person from purchasing a pseudoephedrine product on behalf of another person with intent to facilitate another person's manufacture of methamphetamine. A person who violates this prohibition is guilty of a Class I felony.

Possession of methamphetamine precursors

Current law generally prohibits possessing or disposing of waste resulting from the manufacture of methamphetamine. This prohibition does not apply to legitimate storage, treatment, or clean-up operations. A violation of this prohibition is a Class F felony. Second and subsequent offenses are Class H felonies.

Current law also prohibits possessing or attempting to possess methamphetamine itself. A violation of that prohibition is a Class I felony. In addition, current law prohibits manufacturing, distributing, and delivering methamphetamine and possessing methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, distribute, or deliver. A violation of one of these prohibitions is a Class C, D, E, or F felony, depending on the amount of the drug involved.

This substitute amendment prohibits possessing a variety of materials with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. A person who violates this prohibition is guilty of a Class H felony. The materials that are covered by this prohibition are pseudoephedrine products, products containing ephedrine (a schedule IV controlled substance), phenylpropanolamine, red phosphorus, lithium metal, sodium metal, iodine, anhydrous ammonia, and pressurized ammonia. Possession of more than nine grams of pseudoephedrine or ephedrine creates a rebuttable presumption of the person's intent to manufacture methamphetamine.

In general, a person who is convicted of possessing the materials listed above with intent to manufacture methamphetamine is subject to the same disqualifications, disabilities, increased penalties, and other adverse or unfavorable treatments as a person who is convicted of possessing a controlled substance with intent to manufacture, distribute, or deliver ("possession with intent" crimes). For example, like possession with intent crimes, this new offense is classified as a "three-strikes" crime, which means that a person who is convicted of this crime and two other offenses that are covered by the three-strikes statute is sentenced, upon conviction for the last of those three offenses, to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or extended supervision.

Agricultural chemicals used to make methamphetamine

Current law prohibits the theft of anhydrous ammonia or equipment used to apply anhydrous ammonia for an agricultural purpose or to store, hold, transport, or transfer anhydrous ammonia (anhydrous ammonia equipment). Current law also contains other prohibitions regarding storing, holding, transporting, and transferring anhydrous ammonia. A person who violates one of these prohibitions is guilty of a Class I felony (unless the violation occurs during agricultural activity or while the person is working on anhydrous ammonia equipment with its owner's consent, in which case the person is subject to a civil monetary penalty).

This substitute amendment prohibits a person from intentionally releasing another person's anhydrous ammonia without the other person's consent. A person who violates this prohibition is guilty of a Class I felony. The substitute amendment also specifies that attempted theft of anhydrous ammonia or anhydrous ammonia equipment is subject to the same penalties as those that apply to the completed offense. (With most other crimes, an attempt is punishable by half of the fine and half of the term of imprisonment that may be imposed for a completed offense.)

Rules regarding storage of certain schedule V controlled substances

Under current law, the Pharmacy Examining Board must adopt rules setting minimum standards regarding manufacturing and distributing drugs. This substitute amendment prohibits the Pharmacy Examining Board from adopting rules that impose requirements regarding the storage of a controlled substance in a safe, a steel cabinet, a vault, or any other secure storage compartment, area, room, or building unless: 1) the controlled substance is included in schedule I, II, III, or IV; or 2) the controlled substance is also a controlled substance under federal law. (Under the substitute amendment, this prohibition would apply only to pseudoephedrine products. All other controlled substances are included in schedule I, II, III, or IV or are controlled substances under federal law.)

Penalties - See PDF for table

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB183-ASA2, s. 1 Section 1. 101.10 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB183-ASA2,5,3 101.10 (title) Storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia; theft of anhydrous ammonia and anhydrous ammonia equipment.

AB183-ASA2, s. 2 Section 2. 101.10 (3) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

AB183-ASA2,5,8 101.10 (3) (f) Intentionally release or allow the escape of anhydrous ammonia belonging to another into the atmosphere. This paragraph does not apply if the owner has authorized the actor to exercise control over the anhydrous ammonia or has consented to its release.

AB183-ASA2, s. 3 Section 3. 111.335 (1) (cs) 5. of the statutes is created to read:

AB183-ASA2,6,3 111.335 (1) (cs) 5. Possessing any of the materials listed in s. 961.65 with intent to manufacture methamphetamine under that section or under a federal law or a law of another state that is substantially similar to s. 961.65.

AB183-ASA2, s. 4 Section 4. 125.12 (2) (ag) 5m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB183-ASA2,6,8 125.12 (2) (ag) 5m. The person has been convicted of possessing any of the materials listed in s. 961.65 with intent to manufacture methamphetamine under that subsection or under a federal law or a law of another state that is substantially similar to s. 961.65.

AB183-ASA2, s. 5 Section 5. 125.12 (2) (ag) 6m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB183-ASA2,6,12 125.12 (2) (ag) 6m. The person knowingly allows another person, who is on the premises for which the license under this chapter is issued, to possess any of the materials listed in s. 961.65 with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine.

AB183-ASA2, s. 6 Section 6. 125.12 (4) (ag) 7m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB183-ASA2,6,17 125.12 (4) (ag) 7m. That the licensee has been convicted of possessing any of the materials listed in s. 961.65 with intent to manufacture methamphetamine under that section or under a federal law or a law of another state that is substantially similar to s. 961.65.

AB183-ASA2, s. 7 Section 7. 125.12 (4) (ag) 8m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB183-ASA2,6,21 125.12 (4) (ag) 8m. That the licensee knowingly allows another person, who is on the premises for which the license under this chapter is issued, to possess any of the materials listed in s. 961.65 with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine.

AB183-ASA2, s. 8 Section 8. 450.07 (4) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 450.07 (4) (b) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB183-ASA2,7,3 450.07 (4) (b) (intro.) The board shall adopt rules prescribing minimum standards for manufacturing and distributing drugs. Rules adopted under this paragraph may not impose requirements regarding the storage of a controlled substance in a safe, a steel cabinet, a vault, or any other secure storage compartment, area, room, or building unless one of the following applies:

AB183-ASA2, s. 9 Section 9. 450.07 (4) (b) 1. of the statutes is created to read:

AB183-ASA2,7,6 450.07 (4) (b) 1. The controlled substance is included in schedule I, II, III, or IV under ch. 961.

AB183-ASA2, s. 10 Section 10. 450.07 (4) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB183-ASA2,7,9 450.07 (4) (b) 2. The controlled substance is also a controlled substance under federal law.