CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 18Introduced by Senator BerryhillJanuary 25, 2017Relative to organ and tissue donation. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSCR 18, as introduced, Berryhill. Donate Life California Month.This measure would designate April 2017 as Donate Life California Month in the State of California and would encourage all Californians to sign up with the Donate Life California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry. Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill TextWHEREAS, Organ, tissue, eye, and blood donation are compassionate and life-giving acts looked upon and recognized in the highest regard; andWHEREAS, There is a critical shortage of available organs for transplant; andWHEREAS, More than 123,000 individuals nationwide and over 22,000 Californians are currently on the national organ transplant wait list. While about one-third of these patients receive a transplant each year, another one-third die while waiting due to a shortage of donated organs; andWHEREAS, A single individuals donation of heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and small intestine can save up to eight lives, the donation of tissue can save and enhance the lives of up to 50 others, and a single blood donation can help three people in need; and WHEREAS, Millions of lives each year are saved and enhanced by donors of organs, tissue, eyes, and blood; and WHEREAS, Nearly twelve million Californians have joined together to save lives by signing up with the state-authorized Donate Life California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry to ensure that their wishes to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor are recognized and honored; andWHEREAS, Minorities are more likely to need a life-saving transplant due to higher incidences of hypertension, diabetes, and hepatitis, conditions that can potentially lead to organ failure and placement on the national organ transplant waiting list; andWHEREAS, Nationwide, minorities make up 58 percent of organ transplant candidates and 64 percent of those awaiting kidney transplants. In California, Latinos make up 39 percent of those waiting for life-saving transplants, Asians and Pacific Islanders 20 percent, and African Americans another 12 percent; andWHEREAS, According to the State Department of Education, minorities make up more than one-half of the population of high school pupils in California. These high school pupils will have the opportunity to make a decision about saving lives and joining the state-authorized Donate Life California Registry to ensure that their wishes to be organ, eye, and tissue donors are recognized and honored; andWHEREAS, A California resident can register with the Donate Life California Registry when applying for or renewing his or her drivers license or identification card at the Department of Motor Vehicles; andWHEREAS, Californians consistently pull together to help those in need. Let us, during Donate Life Month, stand with those facing an uncertain tomorrow and expand our efforts to educate people on the importance of organ donation as a way to improve the lives of our fellow Californians; andWHEREAS, Donate Life California has developed a comprehensive Educator Resource Guide that includes many of the health education content standards for California public schools. This Educator Resource Guide includes lesson plans and educational DVDs about organ, eye, and tissue donation, and the Donate Life California Registry created specifically for the youth population; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That in recognition of April as National Donate Life Month, the Legislature proclaims April 2017 as Donate Life California Month in the State of California. In doing so, the Legislature encourages all Californians to check YES when applying for or renewing a drivers license or identification card, or by signing up at www.donatelifecalifornia.org or www.donevidacalifornia.org; and be it further Resolved, that the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 18Introduced by Senator BerryhillJanuary 25, 2017Relative to organ and tissue donation. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSCR 18, as introduced, Berryhill. Donate Life California Month.This measure would designate April 2017 as Donate Life California Month in the State of California and would encourage all Californians to sign up with the Donate Life California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry. Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 18
Introduced by Senator BerryhillJanuary 25, 2017
Introduced by Senator Berryhill
January 25, 2017
Relative to organ and tissue donation.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 18, as introduced, Berryhill. Donate Life California Month.
This measure would designate April 2017 as Donate Life California Month in the State of California and would encourage all Californians to sign up with the Donate Life California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry.
This measure would designate April 2017 as Donate Life California Month in the State of California and would encourage all Californians to sign up with the Donate Life California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
WHEREAS, Organ, tissue, eye, and blood donation are compassionate and life-giving acts looked upon and recognized in the highest regard; and
WHEREAS, There is a critical shortage of available organs for transplant; and
WHEREAS, More than 123,000 individuals nationwide and over 22,000 Californians are currently on the national organ transplant wait list. While about one-third of these patients receive a transplant each year, another one-third die while waiting due to a shortage of donated organs; and
WHEREAS, A single individuals donation of heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and small intestine can save up to eight lives, the donation of tissue can save and enhance the lives of up to 50 others, and a single blood donation can help three people in need; and
WHEREAS, Millions of lives each year are saved and enhanced by donors of organs, tissue, eyes, and blood; and
WHEREAS, Nearly twelve million Californians have joined together to save lives by signing up with the state-authorized Donate Life California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry to ensure that their wishes to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor are recognized and honored; and
WHEREAS, Minorities are more likely to need a life-saving transplant due to higher incidences of hypertension, diabetes, and hepatitis, conditions that can potentially lead to organ failure and placement on the national organ transplant waiting list; and
WHEREAS, Nationwide, minorities make up 58 percent of organ transplant candidates and 64 percent of those awaiting kidney transplants. In California, Latinos make up 39 percent of those waiting for life-saving transplants, Asians and Pacific Islanders 20 percent, and African Americans another 12 percent; and
WHEREAS, According to the State Department of Education, minorities make up more than one-half of the population of high school pupils in California. These high school pupils will have the opportunity to make a decision about saving lives and joining the state-authorized Donate Life California Registry to ensure that their wishes to be organ, eye, and tissue donors are recognized and honored; and
WHEREAS, A California resident can register with the Donate Life California Registry when applying for or renewing his or her drivers license or identification card at the Department of Motor Vehicles; and
WHEREAS, Californians consistently pull together to help those in need. Let us, during Donate Life Month, stand with those facing an uncertain tomorrow and expand our efforts to educate people on the importance of organ donation as a way to improve the lives of our fellow Californians; and
WHEREAS, Donate Life California has developed a comprehensive Educator Resource Guide that includes many of the health education content standards for California public schools. This Educator Resource Guide includes lesson plans and educational DVDs about organ, eye, and tissue donation, and the Donate Life California Registry created specifically for the youth population; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That in recognition of April as National Donate Life Month, the Legislature proclaims April 2017 as Donate Life California Month in the State of California. In doing so, the Legislature encourages all Californians to check YES when applying for or renewing a drivers license or identification card, or by signing up at www.donatelifecalifornia.org or www.donevidacalifornia.org; and be it further
Resolved, that the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.