Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Health Care & Wellness Committee

HB 2557

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires the Department of Licensing (DOL) to allow a driver's license or identicard applicant to opt in to receiving information about the National Bone Marrow Donor Program, which the DOL must provide either electronically or in hard copy based on the applicant's preference.
Requires the Department of Health to report to the Legislature the results of the efforts to increase public awareness of bone marrow donation and the number of individuals being placed on the bone marrow donation registry from Washington.

Background:

The Department of Health (DOH) was required to establish a bone marrow donor recruitment and education program to educate residents about:

the need for bone marrow donors;
the procedures required to become registered as a potential bone marrow donor, including procedures for determining a person's tissue type; and
the procedure a donor must undergo to donate bone marrow or other sources of blood stem cells.

The DOH must make a special effort to educate and recruit residents from minority populations to volunteer as potential bone marrow donors. The DOH must also make special efforts to educate and recruit state employees, including conducting a bone marrow drive. The DOH, in conjunction with Department of Licensing (DOL), must make educational materials available at all places where driver's licenses are issued or renewed. Minors are not disqualified from bone marrow donation.

The National Marrow Donor Program is a 30 year old program that operates the Be The Match Registry, which is the largest and most diverse bone marrow registry in the world.

Summary of Bill:

The Department of Licensing (DOL) must provide the ability for a driver's license or identicard applicant to express a written interest in obtaining further information, either electronically or in hard copy, about making a donation of bone marrow and the bone marrow donor registry. If the applicant expresses an interest in obtaining information, the DOL must either send an email with a link to the National Bone Marrow Donor Program (Program) or provide written materials from the Program based upon the applicants chosen method to receive the materials. The DOL must provide a notice that any information the applicant provides is used solely to provide the applicant with information about the Program and may not be used for fund-raising or commercial purposes.

The Department of Health's (DOH) Bone Marrow Donor Recruitment and Education Program must also include the ability to obtain information about bone marrow donation when applying for or renewing a personal driver's license or identicard with the DOL.

By December 1, 2020, the DOH, in conjunction with the DOL, must provide a report to the appropriate committees of the Legislature on the results and outcomes of the efforts to increase public awareness of bone marrow donation and the number of individuals being placed on the bone marrow donation registry from Washington as a result of the Act.