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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Citizens across the Lone Star State recognize the |
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vital importance of organ, bone marrow, and blood donation; and |
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WHEREAS, Although 95 percent of adults support organ |
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donation, less than half of Americans are signed up to be donors; |
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additionally, only 2 percent of the population is on the national |
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registry for bone marrow, and while an estimated 38 percent of U.S. |
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residents are eligible to donate blood, less than 10 percent of that |
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group actually donates each year; and |
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WHEREAS, In Texas, organ donors can register online through |
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the Donate Life Texas organization or with the Texas Department of |
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Public Safety driver's license application or renewal, and there |
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are numerous centers for bone marrow and blood donation across the |
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state; furthermore, under Sections 661.916-661.917, Government |
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Code, state employees serving as organ, bone marrow, or blood |
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donors are entitled to a leave of absence or sufficient time off |
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without a deduction in pay; and |
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WHEREAS, Countless men, women, and children benefit each year |
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from the charity and sacrifice of those who donate blood, bone |
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marrow, and organs, and it is incumbent on all Texans to learn about |
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ways to contribute to these lifesaving procedures; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby encourage Texans to donate bone marrow and blood and to |
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register as organ donors; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That all counties and cities be encouraged to adopt |
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the same policy as the state with regard to time off for public |
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employees not to exceed 5 working days in a fiscal year to serve as a |
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bone marrow donor or 30 working days in a fiscal year to serve as an |
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organ donor, and not to exceed four times in a fiscal year to donate |
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blood. |