(Reprinted with amendments adopted on April 15, 2025)
FIRST REPRINT S.B. 349
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SENATE BILL NO. 349–SENATOR PAZINA
MARCH 13, 2025
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Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services
SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to anatomical gifts.
(BDR 40-543)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State: No.
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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.
AN ACT relating to anatomical gifts; authorizing a procurement
organization to transport or arrange for the transportation
of the body or part of a deceased donor under certain
circumstances; authorizing a coroner to require a
procurement organization to provide notice of such
transportation; and providing other matters properly
relating thereto.
Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
The Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act establishes the rights of donors and 1
other persons to affirmatively make anatomical gifts of human bodies and parts for 2
the purpose of transplantation, therapy, research or education. (NRS 451.500-3
451.598) The Uniform Act also sets forth the rights and duties of organizations that 4
procure anatomical gifts. (NRS 451.579) This bill authorizes a procurement 5
organization to transport, or arrange for the transportation of, the body or part of a 6
deceased donor if medical equipment is necessary to ensure the medical suitability 7
of the body or part. This bill also authorizes a coroner to require a procurement 8
organization to notify the coroner if the procurement organization provides or 9
arranges for such transportation within the jurisdiction of the coroner. 10
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. NRS 451.579 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1
451.579 1. When a hospital refers a natural person at or near 2
death to a procurement organization, the organization shall make a 3
reasonable search of the records of any donor registry that it knows 4
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exists for the geographical area in which the natural person resides 1
to ascertain whether the natural person has made an anatomical gift. 2
2. When a hospital refers a natural person at or near death to a 3
procurement organization, the organization may conduct any 4
reasonable examination necessary to ensure the medical suitability 5
of a part that is or could be the subject of an anatomical gift for 6
transplantation, therapy, research or education from a donor or a 7
prospective donor. During the examination period, measures 8
necessary to ensure the medical suitability of the part may not be 9
withdrawn unless the hospital or procurement organization knows 10
that the natural person expressed a contrary intent. 11
3. Unless prohibited by law other than NRS 451.500 to 12
451.598, inclusive, at any time after a donor’s death, the person to 13
which a part passes under NRS 451.571 may conduct any 14
reasonable examination necessary to ensure the medical suitability 15
of the body or part for its intended purpose. 16
4. Unless prohibited by law other than NRS 451.500 to 17
451.598, inclusive, an examination under subsection 2 or 3 may 18
include an examination of all medical and dental records of the 19
donor or prospective donor. 20
5. Upon the death of a minor who was a donor or had signed a 21
refusal, unless a procurement organization knows the minor is 22
emancipated, the procurement organization shall conduct a 23
reasonable search for the parents of the minor and provide the 24
parents with an opportunity to revoke or amend the anatomical gift 25
or revoke the refusal. 26
6. Upon referral by a hospital under subsection 1, a 27
procurement organization shall make a reasonable search for any 28
person listed in NRS 451.566 having priority to make an anatomical 29
gift on behalf of a prospective donor. If a procurement organization 30
receives information that an anatomical gift to any other person was 31
made, amended or revoked, it shall promptly advise the other person 32
of all relevant information. 33
7. Subject to subsection 10 of NRS 451.571 and 451.597, the 34
rights of the person to which a part passes under NRS 451.571 are 35
superior to the rights of all others with respect to the part. The 36
person may accept or reject an anatomical gift in whole or in part. 37
Subject to the terms of the document of gift and NRS 451.500 to 38
451.598, inclusive, a person that accepts an anatomical gift of an 39
entire body may allow embalming, burial or cremation, and use of 40
remains in a funeral service. If the gift is of a part, the person to 41
which the part passes under NRS 451.571, upon the death of the 42
donor and before embalming, burial or cremation, shall cause the 43
part to be removed without unnecessary mutilation. 44
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8. Neither the physician who attends the decedent at death nor 1
the physician who determines the time of the decedent’s death may 2
participate in the procedures for removing or transplanting a part 3
from the decedent. 4
9. A physician or technician may remove a donated part from 5
the body of a donor that the physician or technician is qualified to 6
remove. 7
10. In the absence of an express, contrary indication by the 8
donor or other person authorized to make an anatomical gift, if an 9
anatomical gift of a part has been made for the purpose of 10
transplantation or therapy and the part is medically suitable for that 11
purpose, the appropriate procurement organization shall discuss 12
with a person authorized to make an anatomical gift under NRS 13
451.556 the person’s willingness to make an anatomical gift of any 14
other part for the purpose of research or education. 15
11. A procurement organization may transport within this 16
State, or arrange for the transportation within this State of, the 17
body or part of a deceased donor if medical equipment is 18
necessary to ensure the medical suitability of the body or part. 19
12. A county coroner may require a procurement 20
organization to notify the coroner, in such manner as the coroner 21
may prescribe, if the procurement organization transports or 22
arranges for the transportation of a body or part of a deceased 23
donor pursuant to subsection 11 within the jurisdiction of the 24
coroner. 25
Sec. 2. This act becomes effective on July 1, 2025. 26
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