S-4443

AN ACT Relating to the Washington gift of life medal; and adding a new chapter to Title 1 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that persons who donate organs help save the lives and promote the well-being of others in a manner that demonstrates the noblest side of human nature. Many families and friends of both the donors and the donees may want to remember the special act of donation in a way that honors the memory of the donor and encourages donation by others in the future.

To recognize the special kindness of those who donate their organs, the legislature establishes the Washington gift of life medal.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Organ donor" means an individual who makes an anatomical gift as specified in RCW 68.50.530(1).

(2) "Organ procurement organization" means any accredited or certified organ or eye bank.

(3) "Person" means a person specified in RCW 68.50.550.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Application for the Washington gift of life medal shall be made as follows:

(1) Family members of an organ donor may apply to the governor's office to receive a Washington gift of life medal.

(2) An accredited or a federally certified organ procurement organization through which a person made an organ donation and requested a gift of life medal may apply to the governor's office on behalf of the person or family members.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The governor's office shall award a Washington gift of life medal to all eligible families or persons under the following conditions:

(a) The organ procurement organization shall determine whether the individual or person requesting the medal is eligible under this section to receive the medal described in section 5 of this act and shall submit documentation supporting the eligibility of the individual or person to the governor's office. If more than one organ procurement organization is involved, they shall coordinate in harmony to designate by consensus the organ procurement organization among them to have primary administrative responsibility under this chapter.

(b) The governor's office shall award the medal and direct the primary organ procurement organization to arrange for the presentation to a family or person who requested a medal under this section and who has been determined by the organ procurement organization to be eligible to receive a medal under this section.

(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection and subsection (3) of this section, only one medal may be presented to the family of an organ donor.

(b) In the case of a family in which more than one member is an organ donor, the governor shall award and the primary organ procurement organization shall present an additional medal on behalf of each organ donor to his or her eligible family.

(3)(a) Duplicate medals may be purchased by the family or person eligible to receive the medal. The price of the duplicate medal shall be sufficient to cover its cost.

(b) Anyone not eligible to receive a medal under this chapter may request from the eligible family or person permission to purchase duplicate medals. The family's or person's decision to grant or withhold permission shall be in writing and shall be final. The family's or person's decision shall be honored by the governor.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The Washington gift of life medal shall be of bronze and shall consist of the seal of the state of Washington, surrounded by a raised laurel wreath and suspended from a ring attached by a dark green ribbon. The reverse of the decoration within the raised laurel wreath shall be inscribed with the words: "For the greatest act of kindness in donating organs to enhance the lives of others."

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Sections 1 through 5 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 1 RCW.