What's happening
This bill requires the commissioner of education to recommend whether New York high schools should teach about blood, bone marrow, organ, and tissue donation.
Why it matters
Requires comprehensive input. The commissioner must gather recommendations from teachers, administrators, parents, students, and educational experts before making a recommendation, ensuring any proposal is informed by those directly affected.
Considers impact on curriculum and budgets. The bill mandates an analysis of how adding donation-related education might affect class time for other subjects and whether it would have financial consequences for schools or the state.
Sets clear deadlines and accountability. The commissioner has 180 days to make a recommendation, and the Board of Regents must respond within 60 days, promoting timely decision-making. If the curriculum is rejected, a formal report explaining the decision must be submitted to top state officials within 30 days.
Potential to influence health outcomes and awareness. By opening the door to education on blood, bone marrow, organ, and tissue donation, the bill could help inform students about lifesaving donation options, potentially increasing future donor rates and public health awareness.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Teach Organ Donation in Schools
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 14
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Recommitted to rules
- Ordered to third reading cal.339
- 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.
Teach About Organ Donation
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Felix Ortiz
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2439
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 24, 2019
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 57 to read as follows:
57. a. The commissioner shall 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 and the ways in which such donations can be beneficial to others, in senior high schools.
b. Prior to making the recommendations to the board of regents, the commissioner shall:
(i) seek the recommendations of teachers, school administrators, teacher educators and others with educational expertise in the proposed curriculum;
(ii) seek comment from parents, students and other interested parties;
(iii) consider the amount of instructional time such curriculum will require and whether such time would detract from other mandated courses of study;
(iv) consider the fiscal impact, if any, on the state and school districts; and
(v) consider any additional factors the commissioner deems relevant.
c. No later than one hundred eighty days after the effective date of this subdivision, the commissioner shall provide a recommendation to the board of regents to either adopt and promulgate appropriate rules and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08252-01-9
S. 2439 2
regulations implementing such curriculum or reject the implementation of such curriculum. Upon receiving a recommendation from the commissioner, pursuant to this subdivision, the board of regents shall vote to either accept or reject the commissioner's recommendation no later than sixty days after receiving such recommendation.
d. If the board of regents adopts such curriculum, the curriculum requirement shall take effect no later than the next school year after such curriculum has been adopted.
e. If the board of regents rejects such curriculum, the commissioner shall provide a report to the determination of the board to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly and the chairs of the senate and assembly committees on education providing the reasons for such rejection not later than thirty days after the board of regents rejects such curriculum.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring the commis- sioner 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 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 57 that would require the State Education Department to consider if instruction in organ and tissue, blood and bone marrow donations in high schools can be beneficial.
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.
It is not just organ and tissue donation that New York must improve on. Blood donations and bone marrow donations are two other 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 lifesaving 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. Moreover, students that are fully informed can have constructive dialogues with their families 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
2018: S 8458 COMRIE Same as A 5004-A Ortiz
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.