New Law Approved in CA

[KT0930]

CA Legislature approves new and improved organ and tissue donor law
California Political Desk



The California Political Desk provides information, news releases, and announcements obtained from communication and public relations offices throughout the state.

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 California Political Desk
September 13, 2007
SACRAMENTO, CA – Assembly Bill 1689, authored by Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Sally Lieber (D-San Jose) and Assemblyman Tom Berryhill (R-Modesto), has been approved by the Legislature and sent to the Governor’s desk for signature. This bill strengthens, updates, and revises the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, giving Californians greater ability to donate organs and greater access to receiving organ donations.

“Medical science has changed significantly since 1987, the last time the UAGA was updated—it’s time for California’s laws to match our technology,” said Assemblywoman Lieber. “Anyone can save a life by just registering on-line with Donate Life California or check ‘Yes’ when renewing your driver’s license.”

A.B. 1689 honors the choice of the individual to be an organ and tissue donor and strengthens the language barring others from overriding a donor’s decision to make an anatomical gift. Additionally, it expands the list of persons who may make anatomical gifts to include health-care agents and, under certain circumstances, parents or guardians, and allows driver’s license eligible minors to register as donors. Further, the bill strengthens the right of an individual to choose not to be a donor by signing a refusal that also bars others from making a gift of that individual’s organs or tissue after his or her death.


“Adopting organ donation uniformity is an issue that is of great importance to the nation as well as California,” said Bryan Stewart, president of Donate Life California, administrator of the state-authorized organ and tissue donor registry. “We thank Speaker pro Tem Lieber and Assemblyman Berryhill for their leadership in bringing California’s existing and progressive laws on donation into one standardized, uniform piece of legislation that is consistent with other states.”

In California alone, more than 20,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant (that's 21 percent of the 97,000 people waiting across the country). Tragically, one third of these individuals will die - waiting. A single donor can save as many as 8 lives as an organ donor and save or heal 50 others as a tissue donor.

To volunteer as a potential donor, sign up at www.donatelifecalifornia.org or check ‘Yes’ when renewing your driver’s license.

A.B. 1689 passed the Senate on a vote of 40-0 and amendments were unanimously concurred with by the Assembly on a vote of 77-0 early Wednesday morning.

The Governor has until October 14th at midnight to sign or veto the bill.