BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.C.R. 42
86R9059 BE-D	By: Wu et al. (Alvarado)
	Administration
	4/29/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Organ, bone marrow, and blood donations play an essential role in a broad range of critical medical treatments, and citizens across the Lone Star State can do their part by registering to become donors and by taking part in local blood drives.

Although 95 percent of Americans support organ donation, only about half are signed up to be donors, and only two percent of the population is on the national registry for bone marrow. Moreover, while an estimated 38 percent of U.S. residents are eligible to donate blood, less than 10 percent of that group actually does so each year.

In Texas, registering to become an organ donor is a simple and straightforward process. More than 11 million state residents have already joined the registry, thanks in part to the efforts of the Donate Life Texas (DLT) organization. DLT works in conjunction with the Texas Department of Public Safety to enable Texans to register as part of the driver's license application and renewal process. In addition, there are numerous centers for bone marrow and blood donation throughout the state, and some employers, including the State of Texas, offer time off or other incentives to encourage donation.

Many individuals have devoted themselves to furthering the donation effort, and Dr. Anh Nguyen Reiss stands as a particularly inspiring example. A Houston physician who was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, Dr. Reiss dedicated the last years of her life to spreading awareness of the need for bone marrow donors. Though she passed away on February 26, 2016, at the age of 48, she and her family and friends helped more than double the number of Vietnamese donors on the registry.

By taking the necessary steps to become donors, Texans can be part of a life-saving process that benefits countless men, women, and children each year, and the anniversary of Dr. Reiss's death serves as a fitting date to focus attention on this important issue.

RESOLVED

That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby designate February 26 as Bone Marrow, Blood, and Organ Donation Registry Day.

That, in accordance with the provisions of Section 391.004(d) (relating to the expiration of the designation of a day, week, or month for recognition), Government Code, this designation remain in effect until the tenth anniversary of the date that this resolution is finally passed by the legislature.