On Tuesday April 8, 2003 a Senate and House Conference committee attached the "Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act" to the unrelated and already passed "National AMBER Alert Network Act of 2003". The AMBER Alert Act is a national bill that follows numerous similar state bills enacting AMBER Alert Networks - networks set up to prevent, locate and rescue child abductees. The National AMBER Alert Network Act has been passed and is now in Conference.
The Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act was attached to the AMBER Alert Act as section 609, and is not related to child abduction. The Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act is almost identical to the "RAVE Act" that was introduced but not passed last year. The act would allow concert promoters, club and stadium owners and event organizers to be prosecuted for the use of illegal substances by those attending an event - even if they try to keep the event drug-free.
The act could cause thousands of business owners - promoters and club owners for instance - to face up to 20 years in prison and $2 million in fines for the use of drugs by people attending their event. Opponents of the RAVE Act believe it could have a potentially dramatic effect on the live music industry. Because of the penalties involved, many promoters and club owners may decide it's not worth the risk to promote and host concerts and shows.
Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) introduced the act as an add-on to the AMBER Alert Act after it had already been unanimously passed in an effort to sneak the RAVE Act into law without putting it through the regular legislative channels. The RAVE Act was not passed last year, but if action is not taken now, it could become law upon the back of the unrelated and benign AMBER Alert Act. The National AMBER Alert Act is still in Conference, it's not too late to have section 609 removed.
(UPDATE - This passed Last Thursday)
The Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act was attached to the AMBER Alert Act as section 609, and is not related to child abduction. The Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act is almost identical to the "RAVE Act" that was introduced but not passed last year. The act would allow concert promoters, club and stadium owners and event organizers to be prosecuted for the use of illegal substances by those attending an event - even if they try to keep the event drug-free.
The act could cause thousands of business owners - promoters and club owners for instance - to face up to 20 years in prison and $2 million in fines for the use of drugs by people attending their event. Opponents of the RAVE Act believe it could have a potentially dramatic effect on the live music industry. Because of the penalties involved, many promoters and club owners may decide it's not worth the risk to promote and host concerts and shows.
Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) introduced the act as an add-on to the AMBER Alert Act after it had already been unanimously passed in an effort to sneak the RAVE Act into law without putting it through the regular legislative channels. The RAVE Act was not passed last year, but if action is not taken now, it could become law upon the back of the unrelated and benign AMBER Alert Act. The National AMBER Alert Act is still in Conference, it's not too late to have section 609 removed.
(UPDATE - This passed Last Thursday)