One of my priorities as your state representative is to support our great military service members. To that end, this session I am co-sponsoring a bill that will benefit some of the tens of thousands of defense personnel and their families who live right here in Missouri. House Bill 1511 will allow any nonresident military spouse to apply for an occupational license in Missouri, as long as they hold a valid license from another state. The bill also reduces the amount time licensing bodies have to waive regulatory requirements for license applicants from other states. The bill will address the challenge that military families face due to having to move often, and provide more fairness and higher quality of life for those in uniform. By cutting a little red tape and helping our armed service personnel and their families, we can show our appreciation for the sacrifices they make for us every day.
House members took action this week to address the growing problem of fentanyl abuse in the state. Lawmakers approved legislation to create stiff penalties for trafficking the synthetic opioid pain reliever the sponsor of the bill called “an incredibly deadly drug.”
The legislation that received first-round approval in the House would make it a class B felony, which carries a sentence of five to 15 years in prison, for knowingly distributing, manufacturing, or attempting to distribute or manufacture more than 10 milligrams of fentanyl or carfentanil. The distribution or manufacture of more than 20 milligrams of the drug would be a class A felony, which carries a sentence of 10 to 30 years.
The sponsor of the bill explained that fentanyl trafficking numbers have increased by 4,711% in the last few years according to the United States Sentencing Commission. He said many in the criminal justice industry have indicated that fentanyl and carfentanil are the deadliest drugs in America.
“Right now, law enforcement and prosecutors only have the ability to charge drug traffickers with possession or possession with intent,” said the sponsor. He said there is a trend across the United States that has seen attorney generals, prosecutors and law enforcement work with the federal government to add fentanyl to their criminal trafficking statutes to give them a new tool in their toolbox.
The legislation given first-round approval in the House would also create stiff penalties for the trafficking of the date-rape drugs known as GHB and Rohypnol. The bill now awaits another vote in the House before moving to the Senate for debate.
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Contact Rep. Billington at hardy.billington@house.mo.gov or by calling 573-751-4039.