DRIVER TRAINING: ORGAN DONATION S.B. 1045:
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
[Please see the PDF version of this analysis, if available, to view this image.]
Senate Bill 1045 (as introduced 12-18-09)
Sponsor: Senator John J. Gleason
Committee: Transportation
Date Completed: 1-19-10
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Driver Education Provider and Instructor Act to require a segment two driver education course to provide instruction explaining the right to make an anatomical gift in the event of death, as provided under the Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Law.
Instructional materials to implement the bill would have to be developed in cooperation with the State's federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) and would have to include information on how to join the State organ, tissue, and eye donor registry.
If instruction material were provided at no cost to the driver education provider in an electronic medium or in the form of a brochure or other written material, the provider would have to show the material to its students.
MCL 256.659
BACKGROUND
The Driver Education Provider and Instructor Act provides for two segments of driver education. The first segment must consist of at least 24 hours of classroom instruction and at least six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction.
After completing the segment one curriculum and meeting other requirements, the student is eligible for a level one graduated license, under which he or she may drive only with a parent or other designated adult.
After holding a valid level one graduated license for at least three continuous months and acquiring 30 or more hours of driving experience, the student is eligible for the segment two driver education course, which must consist of at least six hours of classroom instruction.
Under the Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Law, a donor may make an anatomical gift by authorizing a statement or symbol to be imprinted on the person's driver license or official State identification card, or by other specified means. An anatomical gift may be made by an adult donor, by a minor if he or she is emancipated or has been issued a driver license and is at least 16 years of age, or by the parent, guardian, or agent of a minor under certain circumstances.
Gift of Life of Michigan is the designated organ procurement organization for most of Michigan, and the University of Wisconsin OPO is the designated OPO for northwestern Michigan, according to the organdonor.gov website.
Legislative Analyst: Curtis Walker
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State government. There could be an indeterminate cost associated with the requirement to include information on organ donation in driver education instructional materials. Any costs associated with the proposed requirement would likely result in increased program costs incurred by driver education students. The costs should be minimal, if any.
Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb1045/0910