The Law Now: The so-called crack-house law, passed in 1986, subjects owners, managers, lessees, agents, employees and mortgagees of ''any place for the purpose of manufacturing, distributing, or using any controlled substance'' to criminal penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment and $500,000.

The Changes: S.2633 expands the controlled substances act to allow prosecution of temporary and outdoor venues. It also adds civil penalties for violators of the greater of $250,000 or two times the gross receipts derived from each violation. The section heading would be changed from "establishment of manufacturing operations'' to "maintaining drug-involved premises.''