Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Education Committee
SSB 5594
Brief Description: Concerning public school instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators Short, Wellman, Hasegawa, Padden and Wagoner).
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill
  • Encourages schools serving high school students to offer instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation in a health class necessary for graduation.
  • Authorizes schools serving students in kindergarten through eighth grades to offer instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation to students.
  • Directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to post a link on its website to programs that provide instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation.
Hearing Date: 2/17/22
Staff: Emily Stephens (786-7296) and Megan Wargacki (786-7194).
Background:

Bone Marrow Donations.
Bone marrow, found in the center of large bones, produces stem cells.  Stem cell transplants are used to treat certain cancers and other blood and immune system diseases.  Individuals interested in donating stem cells from bone marrow may join a registry to be matched with a patient looking for a bone marrow donor.  The National Marrow Donor Program is a nonprofit organization that manages the national bone marrow registry.  In Washington, a person's status as a minor may not disqualify him or her from bone marrow donation.


Health Education.
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction adopts state learning standards that describe what public school students must know and be able to do at each grade level.  The state learning standards for health and physical education include the development of knowledge and skills to be physically active, eat nutritiously, access reliable health information and services, communicate effectively, and set health-enhancing goals.  Among other requirements to qualify for graduation from a public high school, students must complete 24 credits, including one half credit in health.  School districts that operate a high school are required to offer instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in at least one health class necessary for graduation.
Summary of Bill:

Each school district, charter school, and state-tribal compact school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades is encouraged to offer instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation to students.  Beginning with the 2022-23 school year, instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation may be included in at least one health class necessary for graduation.


Each school district, charter school, and state-tribal compact school that serves students in kindergarten through eighth grades may offer instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation to students.  The instructional program used may be adapted to be age-appropriate.


Instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation may be an instructional program provided by the National Marrow Donor Program or another relevant nationally recognized organization.  The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction must post a link on its website to this instructional program.  Instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation may be provided by schools directly or by available community-based providers.  The instruction does not need to be provided by certificated instructional staff.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.