Long Overdue Organ Donor Bill Prepared to Become Law, Says Phillips-Hill
HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania became a leader in organ donation advocacy 24 years ago with the passage of landmark legislation that created a set of best practices. According to state Rep. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York Township), the General Assembly has sent Gov. Tom Wolf a much-needed update of
Act 102 of 1994 for his signature.
“We set the bar high in 1994 and then watched other states pass us by in rates of organ donation,” Phillips-Hill said. “Right now, more than 800 Pennsylvanian are waiting for a life-changing - often life-saving - organ transplant. It is a number that should be easy to significantly reduce, and this legislation becoming law will jump start that process.”
Senate Bill 180, which passed the House unanimously on Wednesday, would do the following:
- Expand the list of those persons authorized to decide on behalf of a decedent whether his or her organs are donated.
- Permit a minimally invasive blood or tissue test to be conducted to determine the suitability of a donor.
- Call for education regarding organ and tissue donation and transplantation for high school students, as well as nursing and medical students.
- Increase the voluntary contribution made by citizens from $1 to $3 with respect to driver’s license renewals and renewals of vehicle registration.
According to Phillips-Hill, the bill cleared the Legislature when compromise on a few key issues finally took place.
“The final hurdles had little to do with whether or not organ donation is a good thing,” she said. “Concerns about what could be donated and when donation could be authorized were expressed, and the interested parties worked together to produce legislation that passed both the House and Senate unanimously.
“I’ve seen this issue from both the donor side and the recipient side, and it is truly amazing what the gift of life can do.”
Gov. Wolf has 10 days after Wednesday’s final passage to act on the bill.
Representative Kristin Phillips-Hill
93rd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Scott Little
717.260.6137
slittle@pahousegop.com
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