Pubdate: Fri, 30 Jan 2004
Source: Bristol Herald Courier (VA)
Copyright: 2004 Bristol Herald Courier
Contact: http://www.bristolnews.com/contact.html
Website: http://www.bristolnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1211
Author: Mike Still
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

SENATORS JOIN FORCES IN METHADONE BILL

BRISTOL, Va. - Two Southwest Virginia senators have joined forces in
presenting a bill that would put new limits on those trying to
establish methadone treatment clinics in the state.

The Senate Education and Health Committee approved the amended bill
12-2 Thursday, and it could go to a Senate floor vote by Monday or
Tuesday.

Sens. William Wampler Jr., R-Bristol, and Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke,
merged their respective methadone-clinic bills into SB 607, which would:

a.. prohibit establishment of methadone clinics within a half-mile of
public or private licensed schools and day-care centers unless placed
in an approved hospital setting; b.. require the state Department of
Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services to
notify the local governing body and community services board within 15
days of a license application in that locality; and c.. allow local
governments to submit comments to the commissioner of the state
Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse
Services within 30 days of receiving notice of an application.
Wampler, Bell and other legislators on both sides of the General
Assembly had introduced similar bills this year in response to three
unrelated attempts to open new methadone clinics in the Roanoke area
and in Washington County, near Bristol.

Roanoke County officials successfully blocked one proposed clinic late
last year, while another group succeeded in getting a state license
and meeting zoning requirements in the city of Roanoke.

Washington County officials in December learned of South
Carolina-based Appalachian Treatment Services' plan to open a
methadone clinic on Old Dominion Road near the Lowry Hills community
and John S. Battle High School.

The county could make a decision later this month whether the clinic
meets zoning and building code requirements.

Another bill by Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke, carries the local
notification requirements but does not put limitations on where
methadone treatment clinics could be located. That bill passed from
Education and Health to the Senate floor Thursday on a 14-0 vote.

Wampler said Thursday that his and Bell's legislation would not affect
the Roanoke clinic, although it in effect could limit the Appalachian
Treatment Services effort.

"I think the committee vote is a pretty good indicator," Wampler said
Thursday when asked what reaction to the bill he had received from
fellow senators.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin