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--> --> Legislature in brief Meth users may lose custody of children SALEM - Gov. John Kitzhaber will now decide if parents who expose their children to methamphetamine should risk losing custody more quickly under a bill passed by the state Legislature. The measure, HB3669, was repassed by the House Wednesday after receiving Senate approval and a minor amendment. It now heads to the governor for final review. If it's signed by the governor, the bill wouldn't automatically require that children be taken from their parents if meth is involved. It would, however, allow exposing a child to meth to be considered "extreme conduct," placing it on the same level as sexual abuse. The change would make it easier for the state to terminate parental rights under those circumstances. Children can suffer not only from neglect and abuse at the hands of meth-addicted parents, but also from coming into contact with the toxic and corrosive chemicals used in meth production. Statute of limitations for rape may extend SALEM - The Legislature completed action Wednesday on a bill that would give prosecutors twice as long to file rape charges, under some conditions. The measure, passed unanimously by the Senate and sent to the governor, extends the statute of limitations in some cases for prosecuting rape and sodomy from six to 12 years after commission of a crime. The bill requires that DNA evidence be used as the basis for identifying a defendant if the statute is extended. Backers of the measure, HB263, contend it would be useful in catching serial offenders who could be likely to have a DNA sample on file from a previous crime. Anti-bullying policies bill a possibility SALEM - A House-passed bill to require schools to adopt anti-bullying policies won Senate approval on Wednesday. The measure, endorsed 22-6 by senators, returns to the House for action on amendments. "This is a crisis situation across the country," said state Sen. Verne Duncan, R-Milwaukie, a former Oregon state school superintendent He said the measure, HB3403, says only that schools need to draft policies by 2004 against bullying, harassment and intimidation but doesn't dictate the terms. Opponents argued, though, that the bill is yet another state mandate with which schools will have to deal. "I want to maintain something that resembles local control," said Sen. Gary George, R-Newberg. The bill also prohibits school staff and students from retaliating against informants who report instances of bullying. Associated Press Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing