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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a peace officer's determination whether medical |
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services are needed for persons apprehended for emergency |
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detention. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 573, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 573.013 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 573.013. TRANSPORTING OFFICER'S DETERMINATION OF |
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MEDICAL EMERGENCY. (a) A peace officer shall transport a person |
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apprehended under Section 573.001 or 573.012 to an appropriate |
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medical facility if the officer determines or has reason to believe |
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that the person requires emergency medical services or that the |
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person is: |
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(1) experiencing acute intoxication or overdose from |
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the ingestion of drugs or alcohol; |
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(2) experiencing chest pain; |
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(3) losing consciousness; |
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(4) bleeding or has sustained a serious injury; |
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(5) the victim of an assault or sexual assault; or |
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(6) a resident of a nursing home or assisted living |
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facility. |
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(b) A mental health facility may not require a medical |
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examination of a person transported to the facility by a peace |
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officer under Section 573.001(d) before the facility receives the |
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person at the facility unless at the time the peace officer presents |
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the person to the facility the peace officer determines the person |
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should be transported to a medical facility as provided by |
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Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |