HB 252-LEAVE FOR ORGAN/BONE MARROW DONATIONS    CHAIR DAVIS announced the consideration of HB 252. [Before the committee was CSHB 252(STA).] 1:48:58 PM REPRESENTATIVE GABRIELLA LEDOUX, sponsor of HB 252, introduced the Richard Foster, Stanley M. Robbins and Alex Cesar Donor Act, an act requiring paid leave from employment for organ and bone marrow donation. She said the bill would only apply to state workers and would require the employer to provide not less than 40 or more than 80 hours of leave. According to the Life Alaska Donor Services, approximately 160 patients in Alaska were waiting for kidney transplants, but fewer than 20 were transplant recipients each year. Fewer than 100 people in Alaska were awaiting bone marrow transplants. She stated that about 30 states now have laws similar to HB 252 and 23 of those apply only to state employees. Congress was considering a bill that would make living organ or bone marrow donation part of the Family Medical Leave Act, but the bill before the committee would not apply to the general workforce. 1:50:37 PM SONYA HYMER, Staff to Representative LeDoux, explained that Richard Foster is a Representative from Nome who is waiting for a kidney transplant. Stanley M. Robins is Representative Cissna's late husband and was staff to Senator Gruenberg for many years, and Alex Tasar is the little boy who received a bone marrow donation last year from a man in New Mexico. This bill would allow a donor to take paid leave from work to undergo testing and surgery. 1:52:26 PM Section 2 and 3 are conforming amendments. Section 4 is substantive. It allows State of Alaska employees to take not less than 40 or more than 80 hours of paid administrative leave for screening, testing and surgery related to organ donation. 1:53:34 PM SENATOR COWDERY joined the meeting via teleconference. SENATOR THOMAS noted that the sponsor statement had statistics for the number of kidney transplants done in the state each year, but not for bone marrow transplants. He wondered if Ms. Hymer could give him a ballpark figure MS. HYMER said that approximately five people per year donate bone marrow but she did not know whether the procedures were done in Alaska. SENATOR THOMAS asked why the bill was not broadened to encourage other employers to allow their employees to participate without loss of income. REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX answered that she felt the bill would stand a better chance of passing if it were limited to state employees 1:56:10 PM SENATOR THOMAS said the concern is probably rightly placed. He felt however, that the matter should be addressed in some fashion so it would not be so great a financial and medical burden to potential donors. 1:58:23 PM CHAIR DAVIS said there were two people online to answer questions. SENATOR THOMAS said he would like to get statistics regarding bone marrow transplants but they could email that information to him. 1:58:57 PM SENATOR COWDERY asked whether any other states have passed similar legislation. REPRESENTATIVE LEDOUX said 30 other states have laws similar to this, of which 23 apply only to state employees. 1:59:33 PM SENATOR ELTON said he was disappointed that the bill was limited to state employees, but he moved that HB 252 be moved from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There being no objection, CSHB 252(STA) moved from committee.