The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 324 on dealing in heroin sponsored by Rep. Steuerwald. Author Sen. Houchin presented the bill, which establishes sentence enhancements if a certain quantity of heroin is sold within a 90-day period. The bill also makes dealing in heroin as a Level 2 or Level 3 felony non-suspendible if the person has a prior felony conviction.
The Public Defender Council testified in opposition to the bill. The Tippecanoe County Prosecutor and a representative of the Attorney General’s office testified in favor of the bill. Rep. Negele offered an amendment to insert language identical to that in HB 1312 on pharmacy robbery, and a representative of the Indiana Retail Council spoke in support of the amendment. The amendment was adopted by consent, and the amended bill passed 8-1.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2017/bills/senate/324