SB 181-ANATOMICAL GIFTS  2:47:08 PM CHAIR DAVIS announced consideration of SB 181. SENATOR McGUIRE summarized that this bill simply updates existing statute with respect to anatomical gifts, bringing it into line with federal law. 2:48:48 PM TREVOR FULTON advised that the bill is based on the federal Anatomical Gift Act. It was designed to facilitate organ and tissue donation and transplantation, remove obstacles in the donation process, and increase participation in organ donor programs. He pointed out the blank committee substitute that came from discussions with the Department of Law and Department of Health and Social Services; they concur with the changes. CHAIR DAVIS asked if Mr. Fulton was referring to version E. MR. FULTON confirmed that it was version E. SENATOR THOMAS moved to adopt committee substitute (CS)SB 181, version E, as the working document. There being no objection, version E was before the committee. 2:50:43 PM WHITNEY BREWSTER, Director, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), directed the committee's attention to section 14 on page 4, subsection (b), line 17 of the bill, which would change the legal age to sign up as an organ donor from 18 to 16 years of age and questioned the implications of that change. DEBORAH BAER, Department of Law, Uniform Law Commissioner clarified that a minor must have permission from his parents to drive before he can check the box to donate. If allowed to drive, a child would also be allowed to make the decision on anatomical gifts. However, the gift could be revoked if the child died before reaching age 18. She summarized that the bill would not change drivers license law in the state, children must still have parental consent to drive or sign up as organ donors. SENATOR THOMAS asked what the law meant by "emancipated." MS. BAER explained that the age of majority in Alaska is 18, but a court can decided a minor child is able to live on his or her own. 2:54:42 PM SENATOR COWDERY directed Ms. Baer to page 8, line 31 and asked who is meant by "any other person having authority to dispose of the decedent's body." MS. BAER responded that one would need to have legal authority to dispose of the body. For example, the medical examiner, at some point, has legal authority to dispose of the body. She affirmed the bill did not create legal authority that is not already in state law. SENATOR COWDERY asked how the matter of a living will that declines life support would be addressed, since it is necessary to keep the donor on life support to ensure viability of the organ. 2:56:21 PM MS. BAER explained that the bill does not try to trump a living will. If a potential donor had a "do not resuscitate order," the doctor would honor that, but if necessary in order to honor both that directive and the wish to donate, the doctor would have the authority to maintain support until the organ donation organization could review the documentation and arrange for the procedure. SENATOR COWDERY asked if a patient's decision to refuse life support would be tantamount to a decision not to donate? MS. BAER said they are two separate decisions that a patient would have to make with a doctor and/or legal adviser. 2:58:12 PM BRUCE ZALNERAITIS, CEO, Life Alaska Donor Services testified that close to 100,000 people in the United States were waiting for organ transplants, 180 of them in Alaska, and that 18 people in the United States die each day while waiting. By updating Alaska's Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA) to the 2006 version, SB 181 would remove obstacles to organ and tissue donation by clarifying language on who can grant consent to organ donation. The revised version would also prioritize donations for transplant over research and improve relations between the donor organizations and the medical examiner's office. 3:01:25 PM SENATOR DYSON moved to report CSSB 181 from committee with individual recommendations and attached zero fiscal note(s). There being no objection, CSSB 181(HES) moved from committee.