As part of his ongoing fight against the opioid epidemic in Kentucky, Attorney General Andy Beshear is calling on federal lawmakers to pass legislation that significantly increases the size of fines levied against irresponsible drug manufacturers. The legislation would increase the civil penalty from $10,000 to $100,000 per violation and doubles the maximum criminal penalty from $250,000 to $500,000 per violation for drug manufacturers who fail to legally report suspiciously large volumes of their drugs to state and federal authorities. Beshear said manufacturers have a duty to ensure they take steps quickly to prevent their drugs from entering the illicit market and to not see the consequences as merely being the cost of doing business.