SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   ESSB 6069

                      AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 13, 1992

Brief Description:  Creating a bone marrow donor program.

SPONSORS: Senate Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Snyder, Conner, Wojahn, West, L. Smith, M. Kreidler, Talmadge, Rasmussen, Johnson, Gaspard and Skratek)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG‑TERM CARE

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6069 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

      Signed by Senators West, Chairman; L. Smith, Vice Chairman; Niemi, and Wojahn.

Staff:  Sarena Seifer (786‑7417)

Hearing Dates: January 28, 1992; February 6, 1992

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

BACKGROUND:

For many of the estimated 16,000 Americans diagnosed each year with leukemia, aplastic anemia and other fatal blood diseases, a bone marrow transplant can be a lifesaving procedure.  For the transplant to be successful, it is important that the patient's genetic markers (HLA antigens) closely match those of the donor.  Less than 40 percent of patients who need marrow transplants have a suitably matched related donor able to donate marrow.  To expand the donor pool, transplants using bone marrow from an unrelated donor were begun in the 1970s.  Despite the success of this technological advance, the chances of any two unrelated individuals having matching HLA antigens range between 1:100 to less than 1:1,000,000. 

Donor registries have been established for facilitating searches for suitably matched volunteer donors.  The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) was established in 1986 through a contract with the federal government and maintains a computerized registry listing more than 450,000 potential donors.  In addition to its clinical activities, NMDP educates the public about bone marrow transplantation and recruits new volunteers for the national registry through its educational campaigns.

SUMMARY:

The intent of the Legislature is to establish a statewide bone marrow donor education and recruitment program in order to increase the number of Washington residents who become bone marrow donors, and to increase the chance that patients in need of bone marrow transplants will find a suitable bone marrow match.

The Department of Health is required to establish a bone marrow donor recruitment and education program to educate state residents about the need for bone marrow donors, the procedures required to become registered as a potential bone marrow donor, and the procedures a donor must undergo to donate bone marrow or other sources of blood stem cells.

The Department of Health must make special efforts to educate and recruit minorities to volunteer as potential bone marrow donors.  Means of communication may include use of press, radio, and television, and placement of educational materials in appropriate health care facilities, blood banks, and state and local agencies. 

The Department of Health, in conjunction with the Department of Licensing, must make educational materials available at all places where driver licenses are issued or renewed.

The Department of Health must make special efforts to educate and recruit state employees to volunteer as potential bone marrow donors.  These efforts must include, but not be limited to, conducting a bone marrow donor drive.  The drive must include educational materials furnished by the National Marrow Donor Program.

Specific funding for the purposes of the act must be provided by June 30, 1992 or the act shall be null and void.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

Only 9 percent of minorities in need of bone marrow transplants find a suitable match.  There is a great need for targeted efforts to recruit minorities to donate bone marrow.  Statewide educational efforts will increase the number of potential bone marrow donors, since many individuals are unaware of the opportunity to donate.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Claudio Anasetti, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (pro); Martha Shellenberger, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (pro); Jo Wadsworth, Dept. of Health (support concept); Kathy McDowell, Thurston-Mason County Medical Society Auxiliary (pro); Lori Hubbard, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (pro); Mandy Church, Red Cross volunteer (pro); Janet Vacca, bone marrow donor (pro); Connie Harkema, Washington Marrow Donor Foundation (pro)

HOUSE AMENDMENT(S):

The Department of Health is required to make special efforts to encourage community and private sector businesses and associations to initiate independent bone marrow donor education and recruitment programs.