Legislation would label homes used as meth labs

<p align="justify">Home buyers beware. That dream house may have been a methamphetamine lab.

<p align="justify">State Rep. Mike Smith, D-Canton, wants to take the guesswork out of knowing whether the toxic chemicals used to make meth were ever present in homes that are for sale. Smith has proposed legislation that would require anyone selling a home to disclose whether it was used to make meth.

<p align="justify">"Meth-manufacturing involves very dangerous chemicals that can still be found long after the meth producers have come and gone," Smith said. "This legislation is designed to inform and protect home buyers from sinking their life savings into a home that could be dangerous to their families."

<p align="justify">Smith said even after a meth lab is gone, residue from chemicals can cause serious health problems, including liver and kidney damage, neurological problems and an increased risk of cancer.

<p align="justify">The legislation would require anyone selling a home to tell potential buyers if a meth lab was ever located on the premises.

<p align="justify">"I was amazed to find out there were so many properties involved with meth-manufacturing," Smith said, which is what prompted him to move forward with the legislation.

<p align="justify">His proposal passed through the committee stage earlier this month and is now waiting on a vote from the House of Representatives.

<p align="justify">The notification would not need to be done for the entire life of the house, he said, just once between the discovery of a lab and the sale of the home to a new owner.

<p align="justify">Currently, anyone selling a home must disclose information about termites, boundary disputes and unsafe levels of radon gas, Smith said.

<p align="justify">A recent surge in meth lab discoveries and meth-related arrests in Pekin have police working with local pharmacies to prevent meth-makers from purchasing cold medicines necessary to make the drug.

<p align="justify">Chris Bitner, a detective with the Pekin Police Department, said meth and its chemicals are so toxic a special cleaning company from Rock Island is called to decontaminate the scene when a lab is found.

<p align="justify">"It's a huge health issue," Bitner said. "It's dangerous."

<p align="justify">If passed into law, the measure has the potential to change how real estate agents do business in the state.

<p align="justify">Gary Allen, owner of Allen and Associates Real Estate Inc. in Pekin, said the measure is a good thing and will help protect the public.

<p align="justify">"Since it could be a potential hazard to a home buyer, I agree it should be disclosed," Allen said. "I think it's in the best interest of the general public."

<p align="justify">Allen said Pekin has quite a few houses that used to hold meth labs and said he sold one recently to a buyer who didn't mind the fact the garage was used to make the drug.

<p align="justify">"We disclosed it to the buyers," who planed to gut the house, remodel it and sell it again, Allen said.

<p align="justify">Knowing the garage used to be a meth lab dissuaded Allen and his real estate team from entering.

<p align="justify">"We didn't go in the garage for that reason," he said.

<p align="justify">Kevin Sampier can be reached at (309) 346-5300 or ksampier@pjstar.com.