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Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Print number 1551a
- Amend and recommit to transportation
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Establishes the "New York state organ donor awareness and education act"
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Annette Robinson
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S1551A
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, the state finance law and the public health law, in relation to implementing the "New York state organ donor awareness and education act"
Purpose or general idea of bill
To improve the process by which the Department of Motor Vehicles solicits, registers and enrolls individuals to become members of the New York State Organ and Tissue Registry.
Summary of specific provisions
Specifically, this bill:
1. Restructures the language on an application for a drivers license to include more explicit language dealing with organ donation registry opt-ins.
2. Provides new language for use on applications.
3. Requires the DMV to provide informational literature on organ donation at any place where individuals can apply for a drivers license.
4. Provides applicants for renewals of licenses the option to donate 2 dollars to the New York state Donate Life Registry.
5. Provides regulations over said fund.
6. Amends the public health law to create a new subdivision in regards to the presumed willingness to donate organs.
Justification
According to the New York Alliance for Donation, New York State currently has the lowest Donor Designation Rate (DDR) in the United States. In total, only 11% of eligible donors are currently enrolled in The New York State Organ and Tissue Registry.
This number starkly contrasts to the national average of 430. In some states, such as Utah and Iowa, the DDR ranges between 55-70%, This bill will modify the process by which individuals may join the registry. It would require DMV employees to alert an applicant that they are eligible to join the registry and enact various provisions to encourage registration and donations to the "life pass it on fund".
By making the option to consider organ donation a requirement of application, the number of people informed about the choice to donate organs would increase significantly and with education on the topic this measure would also lead to a significant increase in the percentage of donors in the Registry.
Prior legislative history
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Minimal.
Effective date
This act shall take effect November 1, 2013.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.