TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and Joseph F. Vitale that would require the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to share donor information with federally-approved organ donation agencies was unanimously approved today by the Senate Transportation Committee.
“When a person is in need of an organ transplant, the time it takes to locate an available organ can mean the difference between life and death,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester, who serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Transportation panel. “This bill would improve the available resources for the different organizations who work to match organs with patients on transplant waiting lists. For those in need, sharing MVC records on organ donation can mean a second chance at life.”
“This legislation is designed to help enhance the organ donation process,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex. “By providing the federal organ donation agencies with access to State records and statistics, we would be helping to locate and secure available organs for patients in need in a timely manner.”
The Senators’ measure, S-1760, would call upon the Chief Administrator of the MVC to provide access to an up-to-date list of registered organ donors to the federal organ donor agencies that serve the New Jersey area.
Under State law, the MVC is required to maintain a database consisting of information on every licensed-organ donor in New Jersey. Current law does not require the information to be shared with organ donation agencies.
Under the bill, the MVC would also be required to establish an annual education program for agency employees and personnel designed to focus on the benefits of organ and tissue donation, on the specifics of the State’s program and how the employees can better inform the public about donation.
This measure now heads to the full Senate for a vote.
