FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 5828

                          C 264 L 99

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Presenting a gift of life award.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on State & Local Government (originally sponsored by Senators B. Sheldon, Snyder, Franklin, Bauer, Rasmussen, Patterson, Fairley, Kohl‑Welles, McAuliffe, Fraser, Prentice, Thibaudeau, Jacobsen, T. Sheldon and Spanel).

Senate Committee on State & Local Government

House Committee on State Government

Background:  A Washington Gift of Life Medal was established in 1998.  It consists of an inscribed bronze medal awarded by the Governor at the request of the donor=s family and friends.

The organ donor is defined as an individual who makes a donation of all or part of a human body to take effect upon or after death.

An organ procurement organization is defined as any accredited or certified organ or eye bank.

Family members of the organ donor may apply or an accredited or a federally certified organ procurement organization may apply on behalf of the family member or person who consented to the organ donation as allowed in the statutes regarding human remains.  The application is made to the Governor=s Office.  Eligibility is determined and the medal presented by the primary organ procurement organization.

Each eligible family of an organ donor is entitled to receive one organ donor medal.

Summary:  The recognition is changed to the form of an award.  It is presented annually by the Governor=s Office in coordination with the organ procurement organization.  There are six awards made per year to representative families.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 46 0

House     97 0 (House amended)

Senate    45 0 (Senate concurred)

Effective:  July 25, 1999