By:  Martinez (Senate Sponsor - Carono)                           H.B. No. 805
	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 25, 2005; 
April 26, 2005, read first time and referred to Committee on 
Transportation and Homeland Security; May 11, 2005, reported 
favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 11, 2005, 
sent to printer.)


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to allowing certain emergency and hospital personnel to 
take the thumbprint of certain people who receive emergency 
prehospital care.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 773, Health and Safety 
Code, is amended by adding Section 773.015 to read as follows:
	Sec. 773.015.  IDENTIFICATION OF CERTAIN PATIENTS RECEIVING 
EMERGENCY PREHOSPITAL CARE.  Emergency medical services personnel 
or emergency room medical or admissions personnel may take the 
thumbprint of a person who receives emergency prehospital care if 
the person:
		(1)  does not possess personal identification at the 
time the care is administered;
		(2)  is unconscious;                                                   
		(3)  is transported across the Texas-Mexico border by 
ambulance or helicopter while receiving emergency prehospital 
care; and
		(4)  is delivered to a hospital that has digital 
fingerprinting capabilities.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.                           



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