Pubdate: Sat, 10 Feb 2007
Source: Casper Star-Tribune (WY)
Copyright: 2007 Casper Star-Tribune
Contact:  http://www.casperstartribune.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/765
Author: Ben Neary, Associated Press writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/women.htm (Women)

  HOUSE EASES METH MOM PENALTIES

CHEYENNE -- The House on Thursday backed away from the prospect of 
imposing felony prosecutions on mothers who exposed their newborn 
children to methamphetamine in the womb.

Instead, the House adopted a sweeping amendment drafted by Majority 
Floor Leader Colin Simpson, R-Cody, that expands the definition of 
abuse under the Child Protective Services Act to include prenatal 
exposure to methamphetamine. The House then passed the bill 39-21 on 
final reading.

The change means that a mother who exposed her newborn to the drug 
during pregnancy could be referred to drug court. The drug court, in 
turn, could order to woman to get treatment, and any violation of 
such an order could land the woman in jail for up to 90 days.

A felony conviction under the earlier version of the bill could have 
resulted in prison sentences.

Although the amendment removed the prospect of felony prosecution for 
meth mothers, the revised bill could still result in mothers losing 
custody of their children to the state.

Critics of the bill said they're concerned that the legislation 
threatens to deter drug-addicted women from seeking out necessary 
medical care for themselves and their children. Public health 
professionals from around the country wrote to Wyoming legislators 
this week urging them to oppose the original bill on the grounds that 
it would discourage women from seeking medical care.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman