SRC-JXG S.B. 673 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 673 76R6802 GCH-DBy: Moncrief Health Services 3/22/1999 As Filed DIGEST Currently, approximately 59,000 Americans need some type of organ transplant. Local and regional organizations have been effective in encouraging organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplantations. A coordinated state-wide campaign is needed to fully educate the public to the benefits of organ donations and transplantations. Under the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, the legislature enacted a similar program to promote a blindness education, screening, and treatment program. S.B. 623 would create an anatomical gift program to educate the public regarding laws governing organ, eye, and tissue donation, and would be funded through a voluntary check-off of $1 added to new and renewal drivers license or personal identification applications. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 673 establishes and implements an anatomical gift educational program for the public. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Title 2B, Health and Safety Code, by adding Chapter 46, as follows: CHAPTER 46. ANATOMICAL GIFT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM Sec. 46.001. DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAM. Requires the Texas Department of Health (TDH) to develop a program to educate residents about anatomical gifts. Requires the program to include information about the laws governing anatomical gifts, including Chapter 521Q, Transportation Code, and Chapter 692; the procedures for becoming an organ donor or donee; and the benefits of organ donation. Requires TDH to solicit broad-based input reflecting recommendations of all interested groups, including representatives of patients, providers, ethnic groups, and geographic regions in developing the program. Requires TDH to implement the program only to the extent that funds are available from Section 521.421(g) or 521.422(c), Transportation Code. SECTION 2. Amends Section 521.421, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (g), to require TDH to collect an additional fee of $1 for the issuance or renewal of a license to fund the anatomical gift educational program established under Chapter 46, Health and Safety Code, if the person applying for or renewing a license opts to pay the additional fee. Requires TDH to remit fees collected under this subsection to the comptroller, who shall maintain the identity of the source of the fees. SECTION 3. Amends Section 521.422, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (c), to require TDH to collect an additional fee of $1 for the issuance or renewal of a personal identification card to fund the anatomical gift educational program established under Chapter 46, Health and Safety Code, if the person applying for or renewing a personal identification card opts to pay the additional fee. Requires TDH to remit fees collected under this subsection to the comptroller, who shall maintain the identity of the source of the fees. SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 5. Emergency clause.