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Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to insurance
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1585
- Reported and committed to rules
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to health
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.
Enacts the "living donor protection act of 2016"
In Assembly Committee · Insurance · Sponsor Aileen Gunther
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, the insurance law and the workers' compensation law, in relation to enacting the "living donor protection act of 2016"
Purpose
To ensure that New Yorkers receive reliable and accurate information about live organ donation and to ensure that those who donate are protected against insurance discrimination and benefit from paid family leave.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill identifies the act to be known as the "living donor protection act of 2016"
Section 2 of the bill amends the public health law to direct the commissioner, in cooperation with the transplant council and other interested parties to develop and distribute information on live organ donation.
Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the bill amend various sections of the insurance law to clarify that no entity offering or providing long term care insurance, health insurance, or life insurance shall discriminate in offering, issuing cancelling or providing coverage due to an individual's status as a living organ or tissue donor.
Section 6 of the bill amends the workers' compensation law to include transplantation preparation and recovery related to organ or tissue donation among those "serious health conditions" covered under paid family leave.
Section 7 of the bill provides for an effective date.
Justification
Giving the gift of life in the form of organ or tissue donation is the ultimate gift. This is particularly true for those individuals who are live donors. They not only sacrifice part of their body for another, they must go through medical procedures, healing and other hardships in order to give the gift of life.
In New York State each year about a thousand individuals agree to donate tissues and organs and become living donors. While New York State has a tax deduction and other efforts to try and support these donors, much more needs to be done. This bill directs the commissioner, in cooperation with other stakeholders, to work on public education and outreach about living organ donation. It also expressly makes clear that no individual who chooses to become a living donor should experience insurance discrimination and they and their family should benefit from the recently enacted paid family leave law. Giving the gift of life, particularly as a living donor, is a huge sacrifice. It is in everyone's interest that people who make this choice have good information and supports to do so. The Living Donor Protection Act of 2016 does just that.
Legislative history
New Bill
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
The 90th day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.