Bill to expand the Commonwealth’s Organ Donor Registration
sponsored by Kentucky State Senator Julie Raque Adams
(Louisville, KY- February 6, 2019) – Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA) and Kentucky Circuit Court Clerks’ Trust For Life are thrilled to announce Kentucky Senate Bill 77 passed unanimously out of the Senate Health and Welfare Committeethis morning. This groundbreaking bill will amend KRS 311.1947 to expand organ donor registration to the Commonwealth’s single sign-on system and will become effective January 1, 2020.
KODA and Trust For Life have worked extensively with Senator Julie Raque Adams on this bill to grow the Donor Registry. The new 8-year Kentucky driver’s license impact on the Registry had put the number of registrations at serious risk. Currently Circuit Clerks see about 1 million people per year and with the longer renewal cycle, that number could have dropped in half.
“We are absolutely elated by the senate’s vote this morning, which firmly cement’s Kentucky’s status as a leader on behalf of organ and tissue donation,” states Shelley Snyder, Executive Director, Kentucky Circuit Court Clerks’ Trust For Life. “The passage of this bill is the first in the U.S to create a portal to a registry in this manner. And we’re especially grateful to Senator Adams for her sponsorship of SB77, along with her dedication and drive surrounding the importance of an issue which affects so many men, women and children in need.”
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Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates mission is to provide organ and tissues to those in need and to maintain a profound respect for those who gave. For more information visit kyorgandonor.org. The mission of theKentucky Circuit Court Clerks’ Trust For Life is to inform, educate, and encourage Kentuckians to register as organ and tissue donors to save lives. For more information visit trustforlife.org. These two nonprofits partner closely to educate and improve the lives of Kentuckians through organ donation and transplantation.