_______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE
SENATE BILL 6667
_______________________________________________
Passed
Legislature - 1998 Regular Session
State
of Washington 55th Legislature 1998 Regular Session
By
Read
first time 02/06/98.
Establishing the Washington gift of life medal.
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.
Passed the Senate February 14, 1998.
Passed the House March 3, 1998.
Approved by the Governor
March 18, 1998.
Filed
in Office of Secretary of State March 18, 1998.
