A bill sponsored by state Rep. Joan Brady, R-Richland, has passed the S.C. House and is in the Senate. It says:

• Drugs with ephedrine or pseudoephedrine as the sole active ingredient would have to be sold behind a counter.

• Violation of the provision would be a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a $500 fine for the first offense and a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a $1,000 fine for subsequent offenses.

• Customers would have to show photo identification and sign a written or electronic log listing their names and addresses. The logs would be transmitted every 60 days to the State Law Enforcement Division.

• Individual purchases would be limited to a total of 9 grams of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, though the number of purchases per day wouldn’t be limited.

• An adult 18 or older could not manufacture methamphetamine in the presence of a minor child. Conviction under that provision would carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine for a first offense; the maximum penalty would jump to 10 years and a $10,000 fine for subsequent offenses.

— Rick Brundrett