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SHERMAN - State Representative Ron Clark presented Grayson County law enforcement officials with original parchment copies signed by Governor Perry of House Bill 2087, the Methamphetamine Liability Bill. Sheriff Keith Gary, Corporal Richard Ferguson and Sergeant Jay Whitney of the Sheriff’s Office and Lauri Blake of the County Attorney’s Office each received one of the bills.
“These individuals were part of a group of officers from the Denison and Sherman Police Departments and the Sheriff’s Office who met with me before the legislative session began with ideas on how to crack down on methamphetamine production in Grayson County,” Representative Clark said. “Their advice and efforts and the testimony of Corporal Ferguson before the House committee were instrumental in the passage of this legislation.”
House Bill 2087, by Representative Ron Clark, subjects a person who illegally manufactures methamphetamine to strict civil liability for damages for personal injury, death and property damage which results from the manufacturing or exposure to methamphetamine or its byproducts. Producing methamphetamine involves using and creating hazardous chemicals that can cause severe burns, respiratory distress, and even death to those who breathe or come into close contact with the chemicals. HB 2087 provides relief to innocent people harmed by criminals involved in illegal production.
Clark stated that the officers were also helpful in the passage of House Bill 3351, of which he was a joint-author. HB 3351 was passed by the Legislature to address the problem that officers faced when they had to wait until a methamphetamine product was completely manufactured before being able to make an arrest. It is common for an officer to catch a manufacturer in the process or in possession of necessary components to produce methamphetamine. Prior law had been interpreted to mean that to commit the offense of “possessing with the intent to manufacture,” persons had to have been caught with a finished product, not just the precursors to the illegal drugs.
“Assistant County Attorney Laurie Blake (formerly, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney) provided invaluable assistance with the wording of HB 3351,” stated Ron Clark.
“I am proud of the work that members of my staff did to help the passage of these bills,” County Attorney Joe Brown said. “Both bills will be tools that my office can use with local law enforcement agencies to combat the proliferation of methamphetamine production in Grayson County.”
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