25 LC 57 0244
House Bill 620
By: Representatives Kahaian of the 81
st
, Clark of the 100
th
, Campbell of the 171
st
, Martinez
of the 111
th
, Reeves of the 99
th
, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
1
holidays and observances, so as to designate Blood Plasma Donation Awareness Day in2
Georgia; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to provide an3
effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:5
SECTION 1.6
The General Assembly finds that:7
(1) The lives of millions of individuals are heavily reliant on life-saving therapies8
derived from human blood plasma, emphasizing the need for a robust and inclusive blood9
plasma collection infrastructure;10
(2) The United States is home to a vast network of United States Food and Drug11
Administration licensed blood plasma donation centers, which collectively facilitated12
over 493 million plasma donations from 2007 to 2001, underscoring the critical role these13
centers play in supporting healthcare in this country;14
(3) Approximately 33 million liters of blood plasma are meticulously fractionated each15
year, yielding essential therapeutic plasma proteins vital for a wide range of medical16
H. B. 620
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treatments, including emergencies related to uncontrollable bleeding, autoimmune
17
disorders, sickle cell disease, and various chronic conditions;18
(4) The demand for therapies derived from blood plasma has surged dramatically over19
the past two decades, driven by advancements in diagnosing rare diseases, elevated20
standards of patient care, and enhanced patient access to innovative treatments, further21
highlighting the need for increased representation in blood plasma collection efforts;22
(5) Plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMPs) are indispensable in managing urgent23
health crises tied to bleeding, autoimmune conditions, sickle cell disease, and chronic24
health issues, and play crucial roles in treating patients with rare and life-threatening25
illnesses, such as primary immunodeficiencies and hemophilia;26
(6) Millions of donations are made annually at blood plasma collection centers27
throughout the United States, revealing the essential contribution these local collection28
sites make within the healthcare framework of this country and state and the pressing29
need for more diverse representation in the industry;30
(7) The global blood plasma market has achieved remarkable financial growth, reaching31
approximately $30 billion in 2022, a significant increase from just over $5 billion in32
2000, highlighting the enormous economic potential embedded within the plasma33
industry;34
(8) Sickle cell disease is a chronic, incurable genetic blood disease that35
disproportionately affects individuals of African descent, with approximately 100,00036
people in the United States and over 11,000 people in this state living with the condition;37
(9) Sickle cell disease is most prevalent among individuals of African descent, with38
approximately 90 percent of those affected identifying as such, emphasizing the39
significant impact of this disease on communities of color;40
(10) Therapeutic plasma exchange has been recognized as a potentially useful treatment41
in resolving complications of sickle cell disease, including acute chest syndrome and42
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hepatic crisis, highlighting the critical need for accessible and inclusive blood plasma
43
collection infrastructure;44
(11) Dr. Charles Richard Drew, an African American pioneering figure in modern blood45
banking and twentieth-century medicine, revolutionized blood plasma donation and46
storage processes, fundamentally shaping the field as it is known today, and his legacy47
serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of integration and representation in the48
medical field; and49
(12) Despite the significant contributions of individuals of African descent who comprise50
over 86 percent of blood plasma donations nation wide, there are currently no plasma51
collection centers owned by individuals from this demographic in this state, a glaring52
disparity that underscores the need for awareness to promote a more representative blood53
plasma industry that reflects the communities it serves.54
SECTION 2.55
Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to holidays and56
observances, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:57
"1-4-27.
58
February 17 of each year is designated as 'Blood Plasma Donation Awareness Day' in59
Georgia."60
SECTION 3.61
This Act shall become effective July 1, 2025.62
SECTION 4.63
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.64
H. B. 620
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