Revised UAGA Bill Set on House Calendar for 4/22/09
PLEASE SUPPORT HB 2027
Rep. John Zerwas
This bill is on the House Calendar for Wed., 4/22. Please call your Texas representative and ask them to support HB2027! Thank you.
Support Modernizing the Texas Anatomical Gift Act
It Could Save the Life of Someone You Know!
Over 8,000 Texans are on organ donor waiting lists, many of them children, hoping for a second chance at life. We hold their chance in our hands. State donation and transplantation laws can mean the difference between life and death.
The Texas Anatomical Gift Act has been extensively amended since its original enactment. Despite these numerous amendments, sections of the Act are outdated and sometimes in conflict with federal law, best practices, and the realities of modern family relationships. We must fix this now as thousands of lives depend on it.
Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA)
- The original Uniform Anatomical Gift Act was created in 1968 and enacted by all States.
- The 2006 revised UAGA was drafted to promote uniform laws among the States and to provide for seamless processes to save and enhance more lives both within and across State lines.
- The 2006 version has already been adopted by 35 States!
Highlights
- Bolsters the rule that a donor’s autonomous decision regarding the making of an anatomical gift is honored and not subject to change by others.
- Clarifies the ability of others to make donations in absence of first person consent.
- Clarifies “reasonably available” in order to facilitate time sensitive donations
- Conforms existing law with federal regulations and policies by clarifying who may receive a given anatomical gift for a given purpose.
- Criminalizes the intentional falsification of a document of gift or refusal when done to obtain financial gain.
- Traces standard probate language with regard to choice of law in interpreting and executing anatomical gifts, which is important in today’s mobile society.
- Does NOT change law passed in 1995 that requires the Medical Examiner to come to surgery and view the organs for transplant along with the transplant surgeon to determine whether or not they can be used for transplant or must be kept for forensic evidence.
This Could Save the Life of Someone You Know!
