Senator Jose Peralta, LiveOnNY and special guest Mariana Villarreal highlight the importance of becoming an organ donor to encourage organ donation in New York

State Senator Jose Peralta today unveiled legislation that would require
certain state forms and applications to include a space allowing New
Yorkers to sign up for the Donate Life Registry. The bill (S.6022) would
increase opportunities for New Yorkers to register as organ donors in the
state that ranks last nationwide per capita.

Senator Peralta made the announcement as part of the National Minority
Donor Awareness Week (August 1-7) and in collaboration with donors' family
members, living organ donors and recipients, representatives from LiveOnNY,
and special guest Mariana Villarreal, a Hooters Girl from Georgia who
donated a kidney to a patron she knew for only for a few weeks.

According to LiveOnNY, the premier non-for-profit organ donor organization
in New York, more than 10,000 New Yorkers statewide are currently waiting
for organ transplants. Every two-and-a-half hours, a person’s name is added
to the state’s organ transplant waiting list. LiveOnNY has helped save more
than 20,000 lives over the past 37 years.

National Minority Donor Awareness Week is especially important to recognize
in New York, with its diverse population and where only approximately 25%
of residents are registered as part of the Donate Life Registry. The
national average of residents registered as organ donors exceeds 55%.
Notably, the percentage of registered residents in Queens is even lower
than the state average at 11.25%.

“The equation is simple: one gift of organ donation can equal up to eight
lives saved and more than 50 lives can be improved through tissue donation.
Giving life is the best gift one can give,” said State Senator Jose Peralta
(D-Queens). “This is the highest form of altruism, the highest form of
solidarity with others. In terms of healthcare, here in New York, we are in
a state of emergency. Far too many New Yorkers are dying waiting for
organs.”

Senator Peralta added, “This is an easy and common sense approach to
increase the number of New Yorkers who become organ donors, simply by
having the option to check the donate life registry box on multiple state
forms”.

The Senator noted that, according to LiveOnNY, in 2013, about 1,670 New
Yorkers received life-saving organ transplants. However, that same year,
about 600 men, women and children lost their lives because of the shortage
of donors.

For instance, the legislation would require all applications for admission
to state operated institutions of higher education (SUNY) and community
colleges to include a space on forms for enrollment in the Donate Life
Registry.

The bill also would require additional state-issued forms to offer New
Yorkers the possibility to register as an organ donor, including:

      ·         Applications for teaching certifications/licenses issued by
      the New York State Department of Education;
      ·         Applications for admission to State University of New York
      (SUNY) and City University of New York (CUNY);
      ·         Applications for professional licenses issued by the New
      York State Department of Education;
      ·         New York income tax forms:
      ·         Applications for participation in the State’s healthcare
      exchange;
      ·         Biennial registration renewals forms, filed by attorneys;
      ·         Applications for admission to practice law;
      ·         Applications for the registration and renewal of motor
      vehicles: and
      ·         Applications to conduct a profession or occupation as
      licensed by the New York Department of State.

At the present time, New Yorkers interested in becoming organ donors can
only do so by signing up for the Donate Life Registry at the Department of
Motor Vehicles, on voter registration forms and separate standalone forms.

Helen Irving, President and Chief Executive Officer of LiveOnNY, said,
LiveOnNY applauds State Senator Peralta for his vision and leadership to
proactively address the critical shortage of suitable organs for lifesaving
transplants. New Yorkers support organ donation and the bill to include
organ donation enrollments in state forms can help inspire New Yorkers to
take action and register on the New York State Donate Life Registry. These
efforts provide simple measures that can save lives.”

“I never would’ve thought being a Hooters Girl would lead to an opportunity
to help save someone’s life someday,” said Mariana Villarreal, Hooters Girl
of Roswell Georgia. “After watching my grandmother battle kidney failure, I
was deeply moved by Donald’s need and knew I had a perfectly good kidney to
share, so I did, and it has been one of the most rewarding decisions of my
life.”