TWC News: Erie County Clerk Says DMV Computer System Doesn't Encourage Organ Donors

By: TWC News Staff
10/30/2014 06:41 PM

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- State Senator Patrick Gallivan and Erie County Clerk Chris Jacobs said Thursday that a state law meant to increase organ donor rolls has not been properly implemented by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

"Lauren's Law" is named after Lauren Shields, a heart transplant survivor. It requires applicants to check yes or skip the organ donation section when applying for a license, renewing their drivers license or identification card.

Jacobs and Gallivan said in New York state, 22 percent of eligible people are enrolled, well below the national average of 47 percent.

"What we determined was that even though the forms were changed, after talking to my staff, we realized that the computer system we use in the state was not changed. There wasn't a mirror alteration to that," Jacobs said.

According to Jacobs, last year more than 500 people died waiting for transplants. He said that changing the computer system could increase the amount of donor registrations across the state.

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