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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	March 11, 2014 02:55 PM
From:	Senator Donald C. White
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Organ Donor Designation on PA Driver's License

I plan to introduce two pieces of legislation that would promote organ donor designation on a Pennsylvania driver’s license or identification card. According to the Donate Life America website, more than 117,000 men, women and children currently need organ transplants. Every 10 minutes another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list and an average of 18 people die each day due to the lack of available organs for transplant. While 90 percent of Americans say they support donation, only about half of eligible Pennsylvanians have organ donation designated on their driver’s license. My legislation is aimed at increasing organ donor designation by altering driver’s license and identification card application forms. However, each bill differs slightly in their approach. My hope is that by introducing these two bills it will lead to a thoughtful discussion on how Pennsylvania can more closely consider options that will help save lives. If you have any questions regarding this legislation, please contact Carlton Logue of my office at 787-8724 or clogue@pasen.gov.

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Document #1

Description:

The first bill would redesign driver’s license and identification card applications to include the question “Do you wish to have organ donor designation printed on your driver’s license.” This question, although it is required to be asked, is not printed on all driver’s license/identification forms. The bill would also require a phrase to be added to all forms stating that “Pennsylvania strongly supports organ and tissue donation because of its life-saving and life-enhancing opportunities.”

Document #2

Description:

The second approach would create a “presumed consent” or “opt-out” system which is in contrast to Pennsylvania’s current “opt-in” process.  All applications for a driver’s license or identification card would state that “You are automatically deemed to have consented to being an organ and tissue donor…If you do not want to be considered an organ and tissue donor, you must elect to not be included on the organ donor registry by inserting your initials on the line below.” This bill also includes the phrase stating Pennsylvania strongly supports organ donation.