HEART INSIGNIA/DONOR REGISTRY
House Bill 4469
Sponsor: Rep. John Gleason
House Bill 4470
Sponsor: Rep. Philip LaJoy
Committee: Transportation
Complete to 3-14-05
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 4469 AND 4470 AS INTRODUCED 3-8-05
House Bills 4469 and 4470 are tie-barred to House Bill 4082, which would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to require the secretary of state, beginning January 1, 2007, 1) to put a heart insignia on the front and heart insignia information on the back of a driver license when a driver has indicated the intent to be an organ or tissue donor; and 2) to inquire of each licensee, in person or by mail, whether the licensee agrees to participate in the organ and tissue donor registry and electronically transfer information about licensees who agree to participate to the federally designated organ procurement organization.
House Bills 4469 and 4470 would make complementary amendments to the Public Health Code and the Michigan Vehicle Code, respectively.
House Bill 4470 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.303 et al.) to require the secretary of state to:
· Maintain a record of an individual who indicates a willingness to be placed on the registry. Information about an applicant's indicated willingness to be placed on the registry obtained and forwarded by the secretary of state would be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
· Maintain the organ, tissue, and eye donor registry in a manner that provides electronic access to the state's federally designated organ procurement organizations, their successor organizations, and the tissue and eye banks, with limitations on the use and access to the donor registry as determined by the secretary of state.
The bill also would prohibit the charging of a fee to add or remove a heart insignia from a driver license.
House Bill 4469 would amend the Public Health Code to put references to the heart insignia on a driver license or state personal identification card into the code.
It also contains language prohibiting the revocation of a donation made by will or by a "document of gift" after the donor died, regardless of the expressed desires of the deceased donor's next of kin who may oppose the donor's organ, tissue, or eye donation.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The amount of cost to the state is indeterminate at this time. The Department of State would incur costs for programming as well as costs for ongoing administrative expenses.
Fiscal Analyst: Robin Risko
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.