LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 1395, as amended, Alquist. Organ donation.
Existing law authorizes the creation of a not-for-profit entity to
be designated as the California Organ and Tissue Donor Registrar and
authorizes the establishment and maintenance of the Donate Life
California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry for persons who have
identified themselves as organ and tissue donors upon their death.
This bill would authorize the creation of a not-for-profit entity
to be designated as the Altruistic Living Donor Registrar and
authorizes the establishment and maintenance of the Altruistic Living
Donor Registry for persons who would like to identify themselves as
kidney donors during their lifetime. This bill would also
permit the registrar to include on the registry
to include persons who identify themselves as
donors of organs and tissue other than kidneys if the
registrar makes a specified finding is made by the
federal Centers for Medicare and Medical (CMS) and the United Network
for Organ Sharing .
This bill would require the information contained in the registry
be made available to federally designated organ procurement
organizations (OPOs) and transplant centers in California to expedite
matches between identified organ donors and potential recipients.
This bill would permit the registrar to receive voluntary
contributions to support the registry and its activities.
Under existing law, the Department of Motor Vehicles is required
to include on an application for a new or renewal driver's license or
identification card a space for the applicant to give his or her
consent to be an organ or tissue donor upon death and a specified
statement regarding organ donation. Existing law also allows an
applicant for a new or renewal license to designate a voluntary
donation of $2 for the purpose of promoting and supporting organ and
tissue donation.
This bill would, instead, on and after July 1, 2011, require the
department to include on an application for an original or renewal
driver's license or identification card specified language asking the
applicant if he or she wants to enroll with the Donate Life
California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry and giving the applicant
information about the registry, including disenrollment information.
The bill would also require the department to ask the applicant
verbally if he or she wishes to enroll in the registry. The bill
would require the department to transmit to the Donate Life
California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry and the appropriate fiscal
committees of the Legislature an annual report, and to make
available quarterly updates, detailing funds collected through
voluntary contributions from applicants as well as a summary of
specified nonidentifiable applicant information.

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Comments/questions on SB 1395 (Alquist): Organ donation.