SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1489

As of April 1, 2003

Title: An act relating to the organ donor registry.

Brief Description: Creating a voluntary organ and tissue donor registry.

Sponsors: House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Sullivan, Pflug, Schual-Berke, Crouse, Cody, Santos, Morrell, Wood, Anderson and Kenney).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 4/1/03.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Staff: Tanya Karwaki (786-7447)

Background: Washington's Uniform Anatomical Gift Act permits a person to donate all or part of his or her body to another person. Such an organ donor may indicate his or her intent to donate by signing a "document of gift." This document may be a driver's license, a donor card, a will, or other written statement of the donor's intent.

Approximately 80,000 people are on a national transplant waiting list; 1,200 of these people are listed at Washington State transplant centers. Organ procurement organizations are entities that are designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and are responsible for coordinating organ procurement for the areas that they serve. These activities include evaluating potential donors, arranging for the removal of donated organs, preserving donated organs, and arranging for their distribution.

Concern exists that organ procurement in Washington is not sufficiently timely and successful.

Summary of Bill: The organ procurement organization (OPO) designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services must establish a statewide organ and tissue donor registry. The registry must be created with organ and tissue donor information from the Department of Licensing, as well as information from other sources. The OPO is responsible for the reasonable costs of creating and maintaining the registry. An individual may be an organ donor without being in the registry.

The Department of Licensing is instructed to electronically transfer the driver's license and identicard information of organ and tissue donors to the OPO. The department must regularly transfer this information and any change in donor status to the OPO at no charge. The information cannot be subsequently transferred or used by the OPO for fundraising. The department must provide written information about organ and tissue donation to vehicle registration applicants.

The "Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Account" is created. Funds for the account shall come from donations from vehicle registration applicants and any other contributions or appropriations. The department must ask all vehicle registration applicants if they would like to donate money to the account. The department must transfer the donations to the State Treasurer who shall credit the account. Expenditures from the account may only be used for organ and tissue donation awareness programs, as well as reasonable costs for creating and maintaining the registry.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: Section 5 of this act takes effect January 1, 2004; all other sections take effect ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.