"Texans must take every precaution, even prepare for worst-case scenarios, to keep our children safe," said Gov. Perry. "Whether a child is lost or abducted, these child I.D. cards will save valuable time in the search and rescue process, and help reunite families whose situation could have been much worse without the cards."
Through a collaborative effort between the Sheriff's Association, the National Child Identification Program, the American Football Coaches Association and the Texas Association of School Administrators, child I.D. kits will be supplied to the estimated 372,900 incoming public school kindergarten students. Each kit will contain an inkless fingerprint card, two swabs to obtain a child's DNA from their saliva, and a laminated wallet card to keep an updated photograph and physical description of the child.
In the past 10 years, through the leadership of Gov. Perry as both governor and lieutenant governor, 6.53 million I.D. kits have been delivered to Texas school children. Last year, Gov. Perry was honored by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)/FBI National Child I.D. Program for his support. The governor is the first non-coach to receive the FBI Director's Award for Child Safety, and also received the FBI Assistant Director's Award for Child Safety as well as certificates of appreciation from the FBI's four field offices in Texas.
