What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
History
- Referred to education
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.542
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to education
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.
Requires the commissioner of education to make recommendations to the board of regents relating to the adoption of instruction in information relating to blood, bone marrow and organ and tissue donations
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Felix Ortiz
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the commissioner of education to make recommendations to the board of regents relating to the adoption of instruction in information relating to blood, bone marrow and organ and tissue donations in senior high schools
Purpose
This bill requires the commissioner of education to make recommendations to the board of regents relating to the adoption of instruction in information relating to blood, bone marrow and organ and tissue donations.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 55 that would require the SED to consider if instruction in organ and tissue, blood and bone marrow donations in high schools can be beneficial.
Section 2: This act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
New York has the unfortunate distinction of being 50th in the nation in organ and tissue donation. For a myriad number of reasons, the number of donors in New York is not nearly enough to meet the needs of potential recipients. There are more than 10,000 individuals currently waiting for an organ and tissue donation in the State, and unfortunately due to the severe shortage of donors, an individual passes away every fifteen hours because they could not get a critically needed donation.
But it is not just organ and tissue donation that New York must improve on. Blood donations and bone marrow donations are two more important types of donations that can help save and improve the lives of others.
In New York, the current age of consent to register as a bone marrow and organ and tissue donor is 18. The age of consent to donate blood is 17 (or 16 with parental consent). Therefore, it is critical our students be fully informed of the numerous life saving benefits of each of these types of donations before they reach the age of consent so they can make an informed decision on whether to register as a donor or not. Moreover, students that are fully informed can have constructive dialogues with their family and friends about the benefits of being a donor.
It goes without saying that being a donor is one of the easiest ways to have a profound impact on the lives of others. One organ donor has the ability to save up to 8 lives, and impact up to 50 more. Similarly, one pint of blood from one donor has the ability save up to 3 lives.
New York must do better to raise the number of donors in the state. One of the most effective ways to do so is to keep asking and keep informing. This bill will require all students to be informed about organ and tissue, bone marrow and blood donations and will hopefully result in a greater number of people becoming donors and saving lives.
Legislative history
2016: New Bill.
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Effective date
This shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.