H 5118 General Bill, By J.H. Neal
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 56-1-570 so as to require the Department of Revenue and Taxation to include in
 its driver's license applications a statement asking an applicant if they wish
 to be an organ or tissue donor and the driver's license must contain a
 statement indicating the applicant's response; and to amend Section 44-43-930,
 relating to organ and tissue donors in hospitals, so as to require a hospital
 to inquire of all patients being admitted whether they wish to be an organ or
 tissue donor.

   04/14/94  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-20
   04/14/94  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means HJ-20

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 56-1-570 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND TAXATION TO INCLUDE IN ITS DRIVER'S LICENSE APPLICATIONS A STATEMENT ASKING AN APPLICANT IF THEY WISH TO BE AN ORGAN OR TISSUE DONOR AND THE DRIVER'S LICENSE MUST CONTAIN A STATEMENT INDICATING THE APPLICANT'S RESPONSE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 44-43-930, RELATING TO ORGAN AND TISSUE DONORS IN HOSPITALS, SO AS TO REQUIRE A HOSPITAL TO INQUIRE OF ALL PATIENTS BEING ADMITTED WHETHER THEY WISH TO BE AN ORGAN OR TISSUE DONOR.

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

SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 56-1-570. The Department of Revenue and Taxation, Division of Motor Vehicles, on every application for a driver's license or renewal or replacement of a driver's license must include a statement asking the applicant if they wish to be an organ donor or tissue donor and the driver's license must contain a statement indicating the applicant's response."

SECTION 2. Section 44-43-930 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 29 of 1991, is amended to read:

"Section 44-43-930. (A) Upon admission of a person to a hospital, the hospital must ask the person, and if the person is not capable of providing the information, the hospital must ask a person authorized to speak on behalf of the person in the priority provided for in Section 44-43-950, if the person desires to be an organ donor or a tissue donor.

(A)(B) When there is a potential organ donor, the designated hospital staff shall notify the appropriate organ procurement agency to determine medical suitability and approach the donor and his the donor's family or guardian regarding the option of organ donation.

(B)(C) When there is a potential tissue donor, the designated hospital staff shall notify the appropriate tissue procurement agency to determine medical suitability and approach the donor and his the donor's family or guardian regarding the option of tissue donation."

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.