Legislature(2003 - 2004)
02/17/2004 02:04 PM House FIN
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE BILL NO. 337
An Act relating to anatomical donor registries, to an
anatomical gift awareness fund, to an anatomical gift
awareness program, and to motor vehicle licenses and
registrations.
REPRESENTATIVE LESIL MCGUIRE noted that currently, there are
nearly 84,000 men, women and children waiting for organ
transplants nationwide, of which 85 live in Alaska. In
addition, many more are waiting for tissue (bone, tendon,
skin, heart valve, cornea) donations.
Alaskans have always been known for their generosity and
caring for their neighbors and the Uniform Anatomical Gift
Act continues that long tradition. The proposed legislation
creates a donor registry program in which a donor's
License/ID information would be transferred to the Life
Alaska Donor Services, the State's organ & tissue donor
program. She added that if the donor did not want to have
their information transferred to the program, the donor
could choose not to participate. Additionally, the donor
could opt out of the program at any time and their
information would be removed from the registry.
Representative McGuire pointed out that currently, the
licensee's donor status is only located as a printed
statement on the physical ID and not within the Division of
Motor Vehicles (D.M.V.) database. A lack of registry
creates a problem for timely donation. The D.M.V. currently
keeps no records of the licensee's status; therefore, the
donation program may not realize the donor's wishes for the
donation to be medically acceptable.
Through the legislation, the donor's status and other
information would be made available to Life Alaska Donor
Services so that the donor's gift would be realized with or
without the donor having their License/State identification
card at the time of death, which will allow Life Alaska to
quickly ascertain the donor status of the licensee and match
the donor's gift with a suitable recipient.
Representative McGuire stated that in addition to the
creation of the registry, HB 337 would establish a monetary
donation program in which a motor vehicle applicant could
donate $1 or more to the Organ & Tissue Donation Awareness
Fund. The donation is voluntary and the Division of Motor
Vehicles would provide that information available to all
applicants. She added that similar bills have already been
passed in Washington and Montana in 2003.
Representative McGuire noted that she did support the
amendment prepared by Co-Chair Williams. She pointed out
that the bill is 100% funded by the organ donation
organizations. There will be no fiscal impact on the State
of Alaska. Representative McGuire advised that Duane
Bannock, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, has willingly
accepted the job of the proposal and that they will be an
important partner in the process. HB 337 allows the
Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to collect $1 dollar to go
toward an Organ-Tissue Donation Awareness Fund. The money
will be collected and transferred quarterly to the
procurement organization to raise awareness regarding organ
and tissue donation, the benefits of it and how to become a
part of the register.
Representative Stoltze asked if the legislation would make
changes to the existing Living Will concept. Representative
McGuire responded that it would not make changes to that
program, as the proposal is a separate concept.
Representative Stoltze mentioned the possibility of problems
for the living heirs and asked if the bill would close that
loophole. Representative McGuire explained that one of the
main purposes of the bill was to get people registered.
Registration would make a solid record of that person's
wishes. The family would then understand their wish by the
formal registry.
Representative McGuire indicated problems throughout the
United States (U.S.) involving family versus personal
intentions of the person at the time of death. Currently
the driver's license indicates the wish but if they are not
part of a registry, then it could be that the heir would not
grant their wish. Having the name on file with the registry
would go a long way in closing the communication gap between
the heirs, families and the person who died. She
acknowledged that the subject was delicate for families. It
is hoped that the families will discuss these things so that
everyone understands the concrete wish made.
Representative Stoltze acknowledged that it would be good to
"close the loop" on personal items before death happens.
Vice Chair Meyer voiced support for the bill and noted that
he had co-sponsored the bill, however, questioned the $7
thousand dollar fiscal note expense requested for the first
year of operation. Representative McGuire explained that
cost would help to create the initial registry database.
The money would be incurred by the organ and tissue
procurement organizations and would originate from program
receipts.
Co-Chair Williams MOVED to ADOPT Amendment #1, #23-
LS1257\W.1, Bannister, 2,17/04. (Copy on File). Co-Chair
Harris OBJECTED for the purpose of discussion.
Representative McGuire acknowledged that the amendment would
make the bill better, allowing a person that wanted to be
removed from the registry to go to the D.M.V. or the
procurement agency and request to be removed. The amendment
provides more options.
Co-Chair Harris WITHDREW his OBJECTION. There being NO
further OJBECTION, Amendment #1 was adopted.
DUANE BANNOCK, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), DIRECTOR,
DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES, DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION,
ANCHORAGE, voiced the D.M.V.'s support of the bill. He
stated that the bill would make for a more "seamless
process" of information transmission so that Alaskan
customers can be on the registered list, making operations
more efficient. He offered to answer questions of the
Committee.
ERIN MEADE, (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE), LIFE CENTER
NORTHWEST, BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON, voiced support for the bill
and offered to answer any further questions of the
Committee.
Representative Foster MOVED to report CS HB 337 (FIN) out of
Committee with individual recommendations and with the
accompanying fiscal notes. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
CS HB 337 (FIN) was reported out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with a new fiscal impact note by
the Department of Revenue and zero fiscal note #1 by the
Department of Health & Social Services.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|