Financial Aspects

Legislation

Federal Legislation

One of the most important federal laws and regulations that have been enacted is the Organ Donation and Recovery Improvement Act (H.R. 3926), which was signed into law on April 5, 2004. The funding for this act has been authorized but not yet appropriated.

A key provision of the legislation establishes a federal grant program to provide assistance to living donors with travel and subsistence expenses and incidental non-medical expenses incurred by individuals toward making living organ donations.

This legislation also:

• Directs the Secretary of Heath and Human Services (HHS) to establish a public education program to increase awareness about organ donation, as well as fund demonstration projects to increase organ donation and recovery rates, including living donation
• Allows the Secretary to award grants to qualified organ procurement organizations and hospitals to establish and support organ donation programs
• Directs the Secretary to support efforts to increase organ donation, improve the rate of organ recovery, and efforts to improve the preservation and transportation of organs
• Allows the Secretary to evaluate the long-term effects associated with living organ donation.

State Legislation

Some states have passed legislation that makes it easier to become a living donor by providing time off for state employees and/or tax deductions for travel expenses and time away from work.

The following states are considering similar legislation:

State	Legislation
Connecticut	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction (SB 190, authored by Sen. Cappiello)
Florida	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction
Hawaii	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction
Illinois	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction
Indiana	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction
Kansas	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction
Kentucky	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction
Maryland	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction, (SB 443, authored by Sen. Hollinger)
Massachusetts	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction, (SD 1105, authored by Sen. Spilka)
Michigan	Michigan Organ Donor Leave (SB 367, authored by Sen. Jacobs) and $10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction (HB 5404, authored by Rep. Gleason)
Missouri	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction (SB 44, authored by Sen. Wheeler)
New Jersey	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction
New York	Leave of absence for organ or bone marrow donation granted to state employees (A03934)
North Carolina	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction
Ohio	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction (HB 156, authored by Rep. Wagner)
Oregon	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction, (HB 2692, authored by Rep. Marsh)
Pennsylvania	Leave of absence for organ and bone marrow donors (HB 153) and deduction for contributions for organ and tissue donation awareness (SB 231)
Rhode Island	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction
South Carolina	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction
Vermont	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction
Virginia	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction
Washington	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction
West Virginia	$10,000 Organ Donation Tax Deduction

For listing additions or changes, please contact us.

Reference and Publication Information

The United Network for Organ Sharing is committed to providing accurate and reliable information for transplant patients. To learn more about our content authorship and review process, please read about our Editorial Board.

The content on this page was originally created on February 25, 2005 by the United Network for Organ Sharing and last modified on July 16, 2007.

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