To Christy Cooper, "clandestine laboratory" is more than a phrase with many syllables. Two years ago, the petite Mill Creek Elementary School student was walking home from school with some cousins when they found themselves much too close to the action as law enforcement officers raided a lab in their neighborhood.
"This guy was shooting at the police, and a SWAT team arrested the guys. They were making crack and methamphetamine. Everybody was really scared," Christy told members of the House Judiciary Committee Thursday."Kids like me need your help to keep our lives safe," Christy said.
The committee was considering two bills, HB58 and HB59, that would tighten availability of the precursor chemicals that are used to manufacture illicit drugs and provide stiffer sentences for individuals caught operating illegal drug labs. Both bills were passed out by the committee with favorable recommendations.
Christy was backed by 10 classmates from Mill Creek who have made clandestine drug manufacturing a topic for civic involvement. Alex Gerrard, a Highland High School student, also testified at the hearing. Highland has been pushing for the legislation for several years.
The Mill Creek children have been helped by Lana Taylor, a University of Utah political science student, who is using the elementary school project as part of an honors thesis. Thursday, she proudly watched as a major milestone of the project was passed.
To help prepare the children, she lined up classroom speakers such as representatives of the Attorney General's office and legislators to tell the fifth- and sixth-graders how they might help effect a legislative remedy for the problem. They learned how drugs are manufactured and were told that Utah's laws have not been as comprehensive as those in other states. Passage of the two bills by this Legislature would bring Utah more into conformity.
Rep. Jerrold Jensen, R-Salt Lake, a bill sponsor, said the children's testimony was "very good" and helpful in getting the measures past their first legislative hurdle. Utah legislators have been working for three years on legislation that would adequately address the clandestine lab problem while protecting legitimate chemists. The current bills have satisfied the concerns that were expressed initially, Jensen said.
Mill Creek Principal Claudia Wasden, who was with her students Thursday, said she expects the effects of the project to last the children a lifetime. "They have learned to lobby for legislation that will help themselves and their community. I think they'll have a desire to be involved later in their lives, and they have helped to activate others."