AEZ H.B. 61 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


CRIMINAL JURISPRUDENCE
H.B. 61
By: Kamel
4-2-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

Currently, the murder of an emergency care attendant or emergency medical
technician, who is in the discharge of an official duty, is not classified
as a capital offense.  These technicians are often called to respond to
the same situations as peace officers and therefore they often face the
same dangers. 

PURPOSE

HB 61, as proposed, provides that the murder of an emergency care
attendant or emergency medical technician, who is in the discharge of an
official duty, is a capital murder offense. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or
institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.   Amends Section 19.03(a), Penal Code, Capital Murder, to
include an emergency                         care attendant or emergency
medical technician who is in the discharge of an
official duty. 

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense
committed on or                              after the effective date of
this Act. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.