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New Law Would Crack Down On Repeat Meth Offenders

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) -- A bill now on the desk of Gov. Pat Quinn would institute a stiff crackdown on repeat methamphetamine offenders.

If signed, House Bill 1908 would require offenders who get out of prison to have a doctor's prescription in order to purchase or possess any product containing pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient of meth, a release from Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office said.

The bill received unanimous concurrence in the Senate Tuesday.

"I want to make it as difficult as possible for offenders to obtain the ingredients they need to manufacture meth," Madigan said in the release. "Law enforcement needs this added tool to protect our communities from the devastating effects of meth."

State Rep. John Bradley (D-Marion) sponsored the legislation that passed unanimously in the Illinois House of Representatives last month.

The legislation focuses on individuals convicted of meth-related offenses who often continue to use and cook meth. In recent years, police report that so-called "small batch" cooks increasingly are obtaining the ingredients to manufacture just enough meth for their use or to make a quick sale, Madigan's office said.

In addition to requiring a prescription for pseudoephedrine, meth ex-cons will not be allowed to buy anything containing ammonium nitrate, another key ingredient in meth production.

The bill also mandates the Illinois Department of Corrections to issue a parole violation if an offender is again charged with a violation of the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act or the Methamphetamine Precursor Control Act.

The bill would also require the department to provide written notice to the Illinois State Police, local state's attorneys and sheriffs of the pending release or discharge of anyone convicted on meth charges.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.

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