By West                                         H.B. No. 1013

      75R3316 SKB-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to consent for emergency care.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 773.008, Health and Safety Code, is

 1-5     amended to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 773.008.  CONSENT FOR EMERGENCY CARE.  Consent for

 1-7     emergency care of an individual is not required if:

 1-8                 (1)  the individual is:

 1-9                       (A)  unable to communicate because of an injury,

1-10     accident, or illness or is unconscious; or [and]

1-11                       (B)  suffering from what reasonably appears to be

1-12     a life-threatening injury or illness;

1-13                 (2)  a court of record orders the treatment of an

1-14     individual who is in an imminent emergency to prevent the

1-15     individual's serious bodily injury or loss of life;  or

1-16                 (3)  the individual is a minor who is suffering from

1-17     what reasonably appears to be a life-threatening injury or illness

1-18     and whose parents, managing or possessory conservator, or guardian

1-19     is not present.

1-20           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-21     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-22     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-23     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-24     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

 2-1     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

 2-2     passage, and it is so enacted.