HB 105 -- ORGAN DONATION AWARENESS PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SPONSOR:  Scheve

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Education-Elementary and Secondary by a vote of 16 to 5.

This bill permits school districts to offer a unit of
instruction on organ donor and transplantation programs to their
ninth or tenth graders.  Parents may exempt their children from
such programs, and students so exempted will not face any
academic penalty for nonparticipation.  The Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education will make information
available to assist districts in developing the instruction.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that donor awareness is the best way
to increase the odds that a transplant organ will be available
when needed.  Nationwide 11,000 people needed a donor liver;
only 4,000 people received one.  Other states, like Tennessee
and Louisiana, have similar programs.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Scheve; and Diedra
Thompson (mother of a donor).

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Becky DeNeve, Legislative Analyst

HB 105 -- Organ Donation Awareness Program for Public Schools

Sponsor:  Scheve

This bill permits school districts to offer a unit of
instruction on organ donor and transplantation programs to their
ninth or tenth graders.  Parents may exempt their children from
such programs, and students so exempted will not face any
academic penalty for nonparticipation.  The Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education will make information
available to assist districts in developing the instruction.