HB 561 Summary

• Increases threshold quantities for drug trafficking charges by raising mandatory minimum sentencing thresholds for cocaine (50g vs 28g), phencyclidine/PCP (50g vs 28g), amphetamine (30g vs 14g), and GHB/GBL (5kg vs 1kg)

• Modifies weight calculation method for prescription drugs by allowing use of national drug code to determine controlled substance weight in mixtures, rather than total mixture weight

• Changes language in sentencing provisions from "shall" to "may" regarding suspension or deferment of adjudication and sentences for trafficking offenses, and expands judicial discretion in substantial assistance cases

• Repeals section 893.101 concerning legislative findings about knowledge of controlled substance possession

• Updates Criminal Punishment Code severity ranking charts and reenacts related statutes to conform to the amended drug trafficking thresholds; effective July 1, 2012