SB 987: Organ and tissue donation registry: driver’s license application.

Existing law, the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, authorizes the creation of a not-for-profit entity to be designated as the California Organ and Tissue Donor Registrar and requires that entity to establish and maintain the Donate Life California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry for persons who have identified themselves as organ and tissue donors upon their death.

Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles, upon issuance of a new drivers license or a renewal of a drivers license or the issuance of an identification card, to provide information on organ and tissue donation. Existing law requires an application for an original or renewal drivers license or identification card to contain a space for the applicant to enroll in the Donate Life California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry and requires the application to include specified check boxes for an applicant to indicate whether or not to add the applicants name to the registry. Existing law requires the back of the application to include a specified disclosure statement informing the applicant that by marking Yes in the check boxes the applicant is legally authorizing the recovery of organs and tissues in the event of his or her death.

This bill would make minor changes to the check boxes and would additionally require the back of the application, upon the departments next scheduled revision, to contain a statement informing the applicant that by marking I do not wish to register to be an organ or tissue donor at this time the applicant is relying on direction in the applicants durable power of attorney for health care, or if none exists, the decision of the applicants family member or agent, as defined.

This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 12811 of the Vehicle Code proposed by AB 1873 to be operative only if this bill and AB 1873 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.