Bill 242

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               242
Ratification Number:       128
Act Number                 77
Introducing Body:          Senate
Subject:                   Relating to donation of eyes

(A77, R128, S242)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 44-43-120, 44-43-130, 44-43-140, AND 44-43-150, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO DONATION OF EYES, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE SOUTH CAROLINA LIONS EYE BANK TO MAKE DETERMINATIONS RELATING TO THE REMOVAL, PROCESSING, DISTRIBUTION, AND USE OF EYES DONATED FOR SIGHT RESTORATION.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Donation of eyes

SECTION 1. Section 44-43-120 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-43-120. The following is sufficient legal authority for a person to donate his eyes for eyesight-restoration purposes:

'DONATION OF EYES FOR EYESIGHT-RESTORATION PURPOSES

I, the undersigned, desiring that my eyes be made available upon death for eyesight-restoration purposes, do hereby give and donate my eyes for such purpose to

____________________________________

Name

_____________________________________________________

Address Telephone Number if living, and if not, then my eyes may be used for a purpose considered appropriate by the South Carolina Lions Eye Bank.

I hereby authorize the South Carolina Lions Eye Bank to request a person certified by the Eye Bank to remove and use my eyes for such purpose.

_______________________________________

Name

______________________________________________

Address Telephone Number'

The written statement need not be in exactly the same form as set forth in this section if the intention of the donor is sufficiently clear from the instrument. The written statement must not be witnessed or acknowledged, and the donor may execute more than one copy."

Statement must be signed

SECTION 2. Section 44-43-130 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-43-130. The written statement as provided in Section 44-43-120 may be signed by more than one person. Hospitals and other institutions and organizations may prepare and have made available the written statements in the South Carolina Lions Eye Bank Register for persons desiring to donate their eyes for eyesight restoration."

Person may designate donee

SECTION 3. Section 44-43-140 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-43-140. A person donating or bequeathing his eyes for eyesight-restoration purposes may designate the donee. If no donee is named by the donor in the written instrument or last will and testament, or if the eyes are not suitable for use by the designated donee, the South Carolina Lions Eye Bank may decide the best use of the eyes. The eyes must be removed by a certified technician, physician, nurse, licensed embalmer, or an appropriate person trained and certified by the South Carolina Lions Eye Bank, the Medical University of South Carolina, or the School of Medicine of the University of South Carolina who must conduct a training course to teach this procedure. This person must be requested to remove the eyes by the South Carolina Lions Eye Bank. The eyes, when removed, must be processed and distributed as directed by the South Carolina Lions Eye Bank."

Authority to remove eyes

SECTION 4. Section 44-43-150 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 44-43-150. The only authority for a hospital, medical physician, surgeon, licensed embalmer, or medically trained and certified technicians to remove and use the eyes of a person donating or bequeathing his eyes is by a written statement or last will and testament or codicil or request of the South Carolina Lions Eye Bank as provided in Section 44-43-140."

Time effective

SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.