Requires election for registration for organ, eye and tissue donations to be included upon certain state forms

Section 2 amends Section 3006 of the Education Law to allow for the inclusion of space for persons applying for teaching certifications to register in the "donate life registry."

Section 3 amends Section 6206 of the Education Law to allow for the inclusion of space on applications for admission to CUNY institutions where applicants may elect to register in the "donate life registry."

Section 4 amends Section 6501 of the Education Law to allow applicants for professional licenses issued by the Department of Education to elect to register in the "donate life registry."

Section 5 amends Section 651 of the Tax Law to allow for the inclusion on State tax forms of a checkbox allowing taxpayers to elect to register in the "donate life registry."

Section 6 amends Section 401 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to allow for the inclusion on each application for registration and/or renewal of a motor vehicle of a checkbox allowing applicants to elect to register in the "donate life registry."

Section 7 amends Section 464 of the Judiciary Law by allowing for the inclusion of space on applications for admission to the practice of law of a checkbox allowing applicants to elect to register in the "donate life registry."

Section 8 amends Section 468-A of the Judiciary Law by allowing for the inclusion of a space on biennial attorney registration forms for the renewing attorney to elect to register in the "donate life registry."

Section 9 adds a new Section 91-A to the Executive Law to include space on applications for business licenses for applicants to elect to register in the "donate life registry," for professions and/or occupations licensed or registered by the Department of State.

Section 10 sets for the effective date of this act.

Justification

Recent reports indicate that New York ranks last among the fifty states with regard to the percentage of residents that are registered as organ donors. More than 10,000 are in need of a life-saving organ transplant at any given time, which represents the third-highest need for donors in the United States. Over 1,600 people in New York State have been on the waiting list for more than five years. In 2013 alone, nearly 600 New Yorkers died due to a severe shortage of donors.

This legislation takes a common sense approach to increasing opportunities for New Yorkers to register as organ donors through the "donate life registry." Where state government forms presenting the public with the option to register as a donor are currently limited to identification applications at the Department of Motor Vehicles, voter registration forms and stand alone forms to participate in the registry, much more can and should be done to encourage registration.

This bill mandates that additional state-issued forms must provide New Yorkers with the opportunity to register as an organ donor, including on:

*Applications for admission to SUNY and CUNY academic programs; *Applications for teaching certifications/licenses as issued by the New York State Department of Education; *Applications for professional licenses as issued by the New York State Department of Education; New York State income tax forms; *Applications for the registration and renewal of motor vehicles; *Applications for admission to the practice of law; *Biennial registration renewal forms, as filed by attorneys; and *Applications to conduct a profession or occupation as licensed by the New York Department of State

Prior legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications

Minimal.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.