Senate approves extension of 'Lauren's Law' in ongoing effort to boost organ and tissue donations

Albany, N.Y., February 24—The State Senate today unanimously approved legislation co-sponsored by Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) to extend an important state law first enacted four years ago aimed at increasing organ and tissue donations in New York State.

“Encouraging organ and tissue donation is one of the most important life-saving actions that we can take in New York State, and Lauren’s Law has been and will continue to be an important part of this ongoing effort,” said O’Mara. 

The legislation (S6228/A8594) would enact a four-year extension of what’s known as “Lauren’s Law” in honor of 12-year-old heart transplant survivor Lauren Shields of Stony Point, New York (Rockland County).  Lauren received her heart transplant in 2009.  She and her family were leading advocates for the law’s initial enactment in 2012 and are at the Capitol today pushing for its extension.  Lauren’s Law is set to expire this October.

Lauren’s Law prohibits a driver's license application from being processed unless the organ donation section is filled out. Applicants have to check a box stating “yes” or “skip this question.”  Prior to the law’s enactment, filling out the organ donation section on the application was optional.

According to LiveOnNy (http://liveonny.org/), formerly the New York Organ Donor Network, over 10,000 people are waiting for organ transplants in the New York State and another name is added to the state's organ transplant waiting list every 2½ hours.

Supporters of the legislation project that the law's renewal will result in 560,000 new organ donor registrants over the next four years.

The bipartisan legislation is expected to be approved by the state Assembly, where it’s currently in the Health Committee, and signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo.