78R1641 YDB-D

By:  Nelson                                                       S.B. No. 160



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to human organ donation education and distribution.                  
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 49, Health and Safety Code, is amended by 
adding Section 49.002 to read as follows:
	Sec. 49.002.  EDUCATION FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND 
ATTORNEYS. (a)  The department shall develop a program to educate 
health care providers and attorneys in this state regarding 
anatomical gifts.
	(b)  The program shall encourage attorneys to provide organ 
donation information to clients seeking legal advice for 
end-of-life decisions.
	(c)  The department shall encourage medical schools and 
nursing schools in this state to include mandatory organ donation 
education in the schools' curriculums.
	(d)  The department shall encourage medical schools and 
hospitals in this state to require a physician in a neurology or 
neurosurgery residency program to complete an advanced course in 
organ donation education.
	SECTION 2.  Section 692.0145, Health and Safety Code, is 
amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
	(c)  The Texas Department of Health shall adopt rules to 
ensure that at least 20 percent of vascular organs received and 
distributed by a qualified organ procurement organization are 
distributed for transplantation to individuals who have been on a 
waiting list for the longest period for a transplantation at a 
transplant center in this state.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.