Brief Description: Prohibiting purchase or sale of human body parts for research purposes.

Sponsors: Representatives Darneille, Clements, Bailey, Green, Appleton, Orcutt and Hinkle.

Hearing Date: 1/27/06

Staff: Elisabeth Frost (786-5793) and Yvonne Walker (786-7841).

Background:

In 1969 the Legislature passed the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA). The UAGA regulates anatomical gifts and in 1993 it was amended to prohibit any person from knowingly purchasing or selling a human body part, if removal of the body part is intended to take place after death, for transplantation or therapy purposes.

Reasonable payment for the removal, processing, disposal, preservation, quality control, storage, transportation, or implantation of a body part, is allowed and expressly exempted from purchasing and selling activities for the purpose of the statute.

Violation of this provision is a class C felony offense punishable by up to $50,000 in fines or five years imprisonment.

Summary of Bill:

A section of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act is amended to criminalize the knowing purchase or sale of a human body part for research purposes, if removal of the body part is intended to take place after the death of the person.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Preliminary fiscal note available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.