Robbins, Attorney General Address Efforts to Combat Methamphetamine

Robbins unveils legislation requiring disclosure of buildings used as hazardous methamphetamine labs

- View Press Conference (running time 21 minutes)

Hermitage – State Senator Bob Robbins (R-50), along with Attorney General Tom Corbett and area law enforcement officials, today unveiled legislation aimed at protecting unwitting buyers of homes and apartments from hazards associated with the production of the deadly drug methamphetamine.

Speaking at a news conference in Hermitage, Robbins said the legislation would require owners of homes and apartments to disclose to buyers or renters if the facility was ever used as a meth lab.

"Even after the clean-up of a site, it is possible for a small amount of contaminants to be left on carpets, furniture, sinks, drains and ventilation systems. Though found in small amounts, meth lab contaminants may pose health threats to persons exposed to them," said Robbins. "I was recently informed by Titusville Chief of Police Michael Simmons that there is currently nothing that requires owners of such sites to disclose that the facility or vehicle was utilized as a meth lab. Today, we are addressing this issue."

Robbins interest in this legislation is the result of a July public hearing Robbins hosted at Thiel College on the subject, where Chief Simmons testified on the need for the measure.

Robbins said the bills would cover:

Homes -- The bill would amend Title 68 (Real and Personal Property) by adding to the list of items that must be disclosed to include prior use of the premises for the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Apartments -- The bill would amend the Landlord and Tenant Act by requiring landlords to disclose in any lease subject to this act if the premises was used for manufacturing methamphetamine.

This legislation builds on Senator Robbins' efforts to combat methamphetamine. Earlier this year, Senator Robbins along with Senate colleagues and Attorney General Tom Corbett, introduced the "Pennsylvania Combat Meth Initiative," a seven-bill package aimed at making it more difficult to obtain the ingredients necessary to make methamphetamine, adding new protections for children and cleaning up the environmental damage caused by meth labs. Amongst the legislation is a bill sponsored by Senator Robbins to create the "Meth Watch Program," a joint program between law enforcement and retailers -- training clerks to be aware of individuals purchasing meth ingredients in large amounts.

CONTACT:

Nate Silcox
(717) 787-1322