SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5594
As of January 17, 2022
Title: An act relating to public school instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation.
Brief Description: Concerning public school instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation.
Sponsors: Senators Short, Wellman, Hasegawa, Padden and Wagoner.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 1/17/22.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal compact schools that serve students in any of grades 9-12 to offer instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation in at least one health class necessary for graduation, beginning in the 2022-23 school year.
  • Allows this instruction to be offered in schools that serve students in grades K-8, which may be adapted to be age-appropriate.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION
Staff: Ailey Kato (786-7434)
Background:

Bone Marrow Donation.  The Washington State Department of Health has a bone marrow donor recruitment and education program to educate residents about:

  • the need for bone marrow donors;
  • the procedures required to become a registered donor;
  • the procedures for donation; and
  • the ability to obtain this information when applying or renewing a driver license or identicard.

 
State law provides that a person's status as a minor may not disqualify them from bone marrow donation.

 

The National Marrow Donor Program manages a registry of unrelated bone marrow donors.

 

Health Graduation Requirement.  The State Board of Education establishes graduation requirements.  One half credit of health is required for graduation. 
Summary of Bill:

School districts, charter schools, and state-tribal compact schools that serve students in any of grades 9-12 must offer instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation to students.  Beginning with the 2022-23 school year, instruction in awareness of bone marrow donation must be included in at least one health class necessary for graduation.

 

This instruction must be an instructional program provided by the National Marrow Donor Program or other relevant nationally recognized organization.  The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction must post a link on its website to this instructional program.

 

School districts, charter schools, and state-tribal compact schools that serve students in any of grades K-8 may offer this instruction and adapt it to be age-appropriate. 

 

These schools may offer this instruction directly or arrange for the instruction to be provided by available community-based providers.  The instruction is not required to be provided by certificated instructional staff.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  Many people, especially people of color, do not have access to this life-saving measure.  It can be difficult to find a donor who is a bone marrow match.  If more people join the registry, more matches can be found.  Bone marrow donation is not talked about as much as organ donation, and people do not know how they can become a donor.  Education about awareness of bone marrow donation should start early because the prime age for donation is 18 through 35.  The experience of donation is not as invasive as many people think.  There are nonsurgical and surgical procedures.
 
OTHER:  There is concern about codifying additional requirements for health classes because it takes away needed flexibility for health curriculum.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Shelly Short, Prime Sponsor; Jeana Moore, Jada Bascom Foundation; Jada Bascom, Jada Bascom Foundation.
OTHER: Anna Hernandez-French, OSPI.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.