Topeka ? A Senate committee is reviewing legislation to crack down on those who profiteer after a disaster, but one member sees it as unnecessary and even “crazy.”

The bill before the Judiciary Committee would amend the Consumer Protection Act to make it illegal to increase the price of necessary goods and services after a disaster. Individuals or businesses who violate the act would face civil lawsuits from the attorney general or local prosecutor and fined if found guilty.

A committee hearing on the bill was scheduled for Friday.

The legislation, from Sen. Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, is a response to a run on gasoline and a spike in prices on Sept. 11. In a few locations, prices were as high as $5 a gallon, and long lines led to some altercations.

But Sen. Ed Pugh, R-Wamego, a committee member, said the market and consumers’ anger took care of the price spike quickly.

He also said people who bought gasoline at high prices did so voluntarily after panicking over rumors of short supplies.

The measure is the second bill drafted and considered by a committee in response to Sept. 11.