CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced Wednesday that Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill that was part of her legislative agenda to create stronger penalties for pill shoppers.
Individuals who knowingly purchase pseudoephedrine or ephedrine for convicted meth manufacturers are known as pill shoppers. House Bill 806 amended the Methamphetamine Precursor Control Act to make pill shopping illegal. The bill passed unanimously in the General Assembly during Illinois' spring legislative session.
The bill, which was sponsored by Rep. John Bradley (D-Marion) and Sen. John Sullivan (D-Rushville), increased the penalty for pill shoppers to a class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class IV felony for second or subsequent offenses.
Madigan said the law will not affect lawful consumers of PSE within the current limits set by state law. HB 806 took effect right away upon Gov. Quinn's signature.
Two other bills that were part of Madigan's 2013 legislative agenda also passed, including a bill to provide help for victims of human trafficking and legislation to increase charges for child pornography offenders.
"My office's legislative agenda this past year aimed to make our communities safer," Madigan said. "As a result of our efforts, we've enhanced penalties for 'pill shoppers' who supply meth cooks, extended financial assistance to victims of human trafficking and expanded criminal charges and penalties against child pornography offenders."
Illinois AG announces signing of bill to stop pill shoppers
