Date rape bill wins final approval

Friday, June 27, 1997 | 11:17 a.m.

SB131, approved late Thursday, would levy one- to 20-year prison terms for people who use certain drugs to trick others into having sex without their knowledge.

The measure makes it illegal to possess the drugs flunitrazepam and gamma-hydroxybytrate, designer drugs similar in their effect to Valium but 10 times stronger. These odorless, colorless drugs typically are slipped into drinks.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas, said the drugs can knock people out and leave them incapable of remembering that they were victimized.

Also winning final legislative approval in the Assembly was SB401, requiring manufacturers to provide warranties on assisting devices that help disabled people.

In particular, warranties would be required on electric wheelchairs, voice synthesizers, Braille printers and hearing aids.

In addition, the manufacturer would have to provide a loaner device while the other device were repaired.

Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, sponsored the bill after hearing people describe the maze of bureaucracy they must go through after acquiring wheelchairs that would not work. She called the bill a lemon law for the disabled.

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