Madison, WI – Today, SB 101 was passed by the Assembly and will now be sent to Governor Evers. State Representative Scott Allen (R – Waukesha) and State Senator Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) authored this bill to address the fentanyl crisis happening in Wisconsin.
The bill would amend state law to ensure that the penalty for causing death by the manufacture, distribution or delivery of a controlled substance gets the same penalty as all other first-degree reckless homicides. Instead of a fine of up to $100,000 or imprisonment, this bill will ensure that those who kill by dealing drugs will face mandatory imprisonment. The length of sentence will be a matter of judicial discretion.
“The loss of over a thousand loved ones every year in Wisconsin is too high of a price to pay. Those who willingly distribute a deadly drug need to be held accountable,” said Rep. Allen. “The bill addresses more than fentanyl, because we needed a law that will stay ahead of the ever-evolving synthetic drug industry.”
The bill has been supported by law enforcement and families of those who have lost loved ones to fentanyl.
“Fentanyl poisoning is murder,” said Rep. Allen. “I hope that Governor Evers signs this bipartisan bill into law as another step in solving the fentanyl crisis.”
