Title: An act relating to anatomical gifts.

Brief Description: Repealing RCW 68.50.560.

Sponsors: Representatives B. Sullivan, Cody, Walsh and Nixon.

Brief History: Passed House: 2/13/2006, 94-2.

Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 3/21/05, 3/23/05 [DP]; 2/16/06, 2/20/06 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Keiser, Chair; Thibaudeau, Vice Chair; Deccio, Ranking Minority Member; Franklin, Johnson, Kastama and Parlette.

Staff: Sharon Swanson (786-7447)

Background: Washington's Uniform Anatomical Gift Act allows individuals to donate all or part of their bodies to another person. Such organ donors may indicate their 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 intentions. Upon admission to a hospital, the hospital must ask patients and their family members whether or not the patient is or would like to become an organ and tissue donor. Hospitals are required to search the personal effects of patients to determine whether or not they are organ donors.

In 2003, a program was established to require that the Department of Licensing transmit drivers license information for individuals that have indicated their intentions to be organ and tissue donors to organ procurement organizations seeking to create a statewide registry of organ and tissue donors in Washington.

Summary of Bill: The requirement that hospitals ask patients and family members about the organ donor status of a patient and conduct a search of the patient's personal effects is repealed.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Removing this section is a technical fix to ensure that the law accurately reflects the existence of the organ donor registry. The donor information is transmitted on a daily basis to a site that hospitals and donation networks have access to. Because of these changes, it is no longer necessary for hospitals to inquire about this information when patients are admitted.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Vicki Austin, Life Center Northwest.