SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5828

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

            State & Local Government, March 3, 1999

Title:  An act relating to the Washington gift of life award.

Brief Description:  Presenting a gift of life award.

Sponsors:  Senators B. Sheldon, Snyder, Franklin, Bauer, Rasmussen, Patterson, Fairley, Kohl‑Welles, McAuliffe, Fraser, Prentice, Thibaudeau, Jacobsen, T. Sheldon and Spanel.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  2/25/99, 3/3/99 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5828 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, Kline and McCaslin.

Staff: Diane Smith (786-7410)

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 of Substitute Bill:  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.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute bill makes a minor editorial correction.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill supports the goal of raising the public awareness of organ donation and does so in a realistic way.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator B. Sheldon, prime sponsor.