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.