2013 -- S 0694

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LC01885

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC EDUCATION

ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION REGISTRATION

     Introduced By: Senator Dennis L. Algiere

     Date Introduced: March 06, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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     CHAPTER 18.6.2

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RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR ORGAN AND

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TISSUE DONATION REGISTRATION

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     23-18.6.2-1. Advisory council. -- (a) There shall be a public education advisory council

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for organ and tissue donations consisting of the administrator of the division of motor vehicles or

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his/her representative, the director of the department of revenue or his/her representative, the

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director of public health or his/her representative, the president of the hospital association of

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Rhode Island or his/her representative, a representative of the federally designated organ

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procurement organization serving Rhode Island, a representative from the Rhode Island organ

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donor awareness coalition, and four (4) persons experienced in the field of organ and tissue

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donations to be appointed by the governor, at least one of whom shall be a recipient of a donated

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organ or tissue, at least one of whom shall be a family member of a donor, and at least one of

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whom shall be a PhD or MD experienced in the field of organ and tissue donation.

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     The term of all appointive members shall be three (3) years and no such member shall be

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appointed to serve more than two (2) consecutive terms. Upon the expiration of the term of any

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appointive member, a successor shall be appointed in like manner for a term of three (3) years.

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     (b) The council will annually designate the chairman from among its members. The

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council shall meet at least four (4) times each year, and shall convene special meetings at the call

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of the chairman. The council shall make an annual report to the governor, that shall include an

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account of all actions taken to further organ and tissue donation, and shall file a copy of the report

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with the secretary of state, the clerk of the senate and the clerk of the house of representatives.

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Members of the council shall serve without compensation.

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     (c) The advisory council shall: (1) Assist in coordinating the efforts of all public and

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private agencies within the state concerned with organ and tissue donation public education; (2)

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Advise the state on comprehensive public education programs and efforts to increase organ and

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tissue donation registrations; (3) Develop strategies to increase organ and tissue donation

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registrations by any means which the council may find effective, the funding for which shall

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come from the organ and tissue donation public education fund established by section 23-18.6.2-

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2; and (4) Establish numerical goals for increasing organ and tissue registration rates in the state,

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which shall include a baseline account of current organ and tissue registration rates, as well as

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periodic benchmarks for success. The division of motor vehicles shall provide monthly donor

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designation rates for each motor vehicle branch to assist in identifying goals. The council’s sole

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focus will be on public education to increase organ and tissue donation registrations.

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     23-18.6.2-2. Funding. -- (a) There shall be established and set up a separate fund to be

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known as the organ and tissue donation public education fund, to facilitate the registration of

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organ and tissue donors. The fund shall consist of all revenues received by the state: (1) Pursuant

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to subsection (c) of this section; and (2) From public and private sources as gifts, grants, and

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donations to further organ and tissue donor registration.

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     All revenues received under this section shall remain in the organ and tissue donation

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public education fund, not subject to appropriation, for the registration of organ and tissue donors.

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The state treasurer shall not deposit these revenues in or transfer these revenues to the general

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fund or any other fund other than the organ and tissue donation public education fund.

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     (b) The state treasurer shall deposit the fund in accordance with subsection (a) in such

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manner as will secure the highest interest available consistent with the safety of the fund and with

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the requirement that all amounts on deposit be available for immediate withdrawal at any time.

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The fund shall be expended only for the purposes stated in section 23-18.6.2-1 at the direction of

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a majority vote by the council and any unexpended balances shall be redeposited, as herein

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provided, for future use consistent with this section.

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     (c) The division of motor vehicles shall include in any license application or renewal

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process an option for the applying or renewing person to voluntarily donate, in addition to the

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fees for license application or renewal, two dollars ($2.00) or more to the organ and tissue

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donation public education fund. The registrar shall annually report the total amount designated

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under this subsection to the state treasurer who shall credit that amount to the organ and tissue

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donation public education fund. The division of motor vehicles shall be given up to one year upon

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the passage of this legislation to include the option to donate to the organ and tissue donation

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public education fund on the appropriate state documents.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage and shall apply to all license

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renewals and applications issued one year from the date of passage.

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LC01885

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC EDUCATION

ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION REGISTRATION

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     This act would create the Rhode Island public education advisory council for organ and

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tissue donation registration consisting of ten (10) members with the sole focus on public

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education to increase organ and tissue donation registrations. Funding would come from a two

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dollar ($2.00) or more optional donation from persons applying for or renewing motor vehicle

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driver licenses and from public and private sources.

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     This act would take effect upon passage and would apply to all license renewals and

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applications issued one year from the date of passage.

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LC01885

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