S.B. 1226 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1226 By: Nelson Public Health Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE S.B. 1226 provides for the formation of a kidney sharing pool and distribution of kidneys to the patients who have been on the waiting list the longest. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS S.B. 1226 provides that a statewide pool of 20%, of each blood type, of the donor kidneys recovered by each organ procurement organization is provided to a special pool for redistribution to patients who have been waiting the longest for transplantation in this state. Provides that medically eligible patients with low panel reactive antibodies of less than 10% who, in terms of accumulated waiting time, comprise the top 20% of all patients waiting, will be put in a pool. The bill provides that as one of those patients receives a transplant, the patient will be replaced in the pool, in turn, by the next longest waiting patient. S.B. 1226 provides that with the exception of assigning points for a six antigen match with zero antigen mismatch, assigning points for human leukocyte antigen (HLA) match will be eliminated by organ procurement organizations that are participating in the pool. The bill clarifies that after a patient has qualified for entry into the pool, the order of distribution is based solely on the length of time each patient has waited. The bill specifies that the use of the pools will be managed by the federal Organ Procurement and Transplant Network. A panel of appropriate physician specialists of Texas' Organ and Procurement Transplant Network members will monitor the listing of patients and the appropriate use of the pools. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003.