TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Fred H. Madden (D – Gloucester, Camden) that would allow New Jersey taxpayers to take a deduction against their gross income if they have donated an organ today cleared the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
“Organ donation is the kind of thing we should be encouraging more of in New Jersey,” said Madden. “Providing this kind of tax deduction is a simple, common-sense measure that will do just that. Not only are we providing a means to greater donation, but we are also helping to save people’s lives.”
The bill, S-564, would allow a deduction of up to $10,000 of unreimbursed expenses for an individual who donates one or more of his or her organs (liver, kidney, lung, bone marrow) to another person. The legislation would help remove obstacles that prevent people from making living organ donations by reducing the associated financial losses. In 2010, 155 New Jersey residents donated their organs.
The bill now heads to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.