FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5509

C 94 L 03

Synopsis as Enacted

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

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators B. Sheldon, Kohl-Welles, Deccio and Winsley).

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

House Committee on Health Care

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 or a donor card. Unless the donor revokes his or her gift before death, the donation may occur without the consent of another person.

Approximately 80,000 people are on a national transplant waiting list; 1,200 of these are listed at Washington State transplant centers.

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

Summary: A statewide organ and tissue donor registry is created. The Department of Licensing must electronically transfer the information on the driver's license or identicard of an organ donor to any Washington State organ procurement organization (Washington State OPO) that intends to establish a statewide registry. The Washington State OPO may also include donor information acquired from sources other than the Department of Licensing.

All reasonable costs of creating and maintaining the registry are paid by the Washington State OPO requesting the information.

Participation in the registry is not a requirement for being an organ donor. Any donors that are part of the registry, however, must notify a Washington State OPO if they revoke their donation so that their names may be removed from the registry.

An "organ and tissue donation awareness account" is created as a nonappropriated fund. The Department of Licensing must ask applicants for a new or renewed vehicle registration whether they would like to donate one dollar or more to the organ and tissue donation awareness account. Moneys collected by the Department of Licensing shall be credited to the organ and tissue donation awareness account and transmitted at least quarterly to the foundation established for organ and tissue donation awareness purposes by the Washington State OPOs. Funds from the account must be used proportionally across the state and may not be used for out-of-state programs.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate       47   0

House       77  17  (House amended)

Senate       47   0  (Senate concurred)

Effective: July 27, 2003

January 1, 2004 (Section 6)