- Introduced -

SB 929 - This act modifies the law relating to organ donation and procurement.

New terms are added to define "donee," "hospital designee," and "OPO" or "organ procurement organizations". Organ procurement organizations are added as recipients (Sections 194.210 - 194.230).

Portions of Section 194.233, RSMo, regarding hospital procedure during organ procurement are deleted. New language requires hospitals to comply with OPO requirements. This act also allows OPOs to engage procurement coordinators to assist in the recovery of donated organs (Section 194.233 - 194.240).

Current law creates the "Organ Donor Program Fund" for the purpose of organ donation awareness programs, as directed by the Organ Donation Advisory Committee. This act allows the Fund to receive gifts, grants, contributions, and other sources. This act adds to the Advisory Committee two representatives of federally certified OPOs, one representative of an eye bank, one member of the hospital industry, a licensed physician, one representative of the Department of Revenue, and one representative of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Appointed terms are clarified. The Department of Health and Senior Services must provide unlimited 24-hour Internet access to the organ donor registry for authorized personnel. A report is due on the subject by January 15, 2003 (Sections 194.207 - 194.302).

The procedure individuals must follow when applying for a Missouri driver's license is outlined in current law. New language states that an applicant may make a donation of $2 to promote organ donor programs when that applicant becomes eligible for the six-year license renewal. Upon renewal, the Department must ask if the applicant is interested in being on the organ donor registry and must inform the applicant about the ability to consent to organ donation on his or her driver's license. The Director must provide by rule the procedure and format for an applicant to indicate an anatomical gift on the back of a nondriver's license card (Sections 302.171 - 302.181).

ERIN MOTLEY