BILL ANALYSIS
By: Laubenberg
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
In recent years, nearly thirty states have renamed their donor registries to "Donate Life," a nationally known non-profit organization that promotes and educates the public about organ and tissue donation. In Texas, the Donor, Education, Awareness and Registry (DEAR) program would also benefit from such a name change. By adopting the name “Glenda Dawson Donate Life-Texas Donor Registry," Texas would not only enhance the visibility of its own registry, but also promote public awareness of registry programs nationwide.
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
CSHB 2145 provides that any program or program component the Department of State Health Services (department) develops under Chapter 49, DONOR EDUCATION, AWARENESS, AND REGISTRY PROGRAM OF TEXAS, Health and Safety Code, shall be known as the Glenda Dawson Donate Life-Texas Registry. It also authorizes the department to affiliate with any entity, including a national or state association concerned with organ donation, to promote the registry.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
The substitute modifies the original bill by requiring, rather than authorizing, that certain programs or its components be known as the Glenda Dawson Donate Life-Texas Registry.