Bill: Let Utah paramedics draw blood from DU..

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A bill that would add paramedics to the list of medical personnel who are authorized to do forensic blood draws on DUI suspects cleared its first legislative hurdle on Tuesday.

Sponsoring Rep. Val Peterson, R-Orem, said a case of driving under the influence that was dismissed on a technicality led to the bill. "Orem City had a DUI case in court where the blood draw was done by a paramedic," said Peterson. "Because of that the case was thrown out."

Paramedics are trained to draw blood. But under state law, only doctors, nurses and certified phlebotomists can collect blood for a test of a person's alcohol or drug levels.

Encountering no public comment, HB85 was unanimously endorsed by the Health and Human Services Committee and placed on the House consent calendar for speedier passage.

Kirsten Stewart

Bill: Let Utah paramedics draw blood from DUI suspects