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.