Organ Donor Registry Bill Passed
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Presumed Consent for Corneas Eliminated
Organ Donor Registry Bill Passed
HB 120 by Rep. Glenda Dawson (R-Pearland) and Sen. Judith
Zaffirini (D-Laredo) creates the DEAR Program (Donor Education,
Awareness, and Registry Program). The newly created program will
reside in the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and
will be overseen by the Texas Eye, Organ, and Tissue Donor Council.
Council members include one representative from each of the states'
three federal quality organ provider organizations; one
representative who is a transplantation physician or nurse; one
representative of an acute care hospital; and two public members
who must be a donor, or recipients, or members of a donor's family.
DSHS will make appointments to the council. The council will
oversee the registry as well as donor education for Texas. The
donor designation will go back on the driver license. The intent at
this time is for the Texas Department of Public Safety computers to
be configured so that if the individual is not asked to be a donor
or doesn't want to make a decision when renewing her license, the
field will be left blank, instead of defaulting to "No." The
program is funded by the voluntary $1 contribution Texans can make
when renewing their driver license. Beginning in 2006, Texans will
be able to donate when they renew their automobile tags.
Presumed Consent for Corneas Eliminated
HB 1544 by Rep. Dawson and Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston)
eliminates a law allowing corneas to be taken without consent in
medical examiner cases. This law was enacted more than 20 years ago
when there was a shortage of corneas for transplantation. However,
while there is still a severe shortage of organs, most individuals
in the United States needing a cornea transplant can receive one in
a timely manner. Beginning in 2005, Federal Drug Administration
regulations require a medical/social history for not just organ
donors, but for all tissue donors, thus making the prior law moot.
The original bill did not include penalties for failure to comply
with the law; however, the final version does allow for civil
penalties to be assessed, up to $500 for each violation.
Transplantation/Organ Donation TMA Staff Contacts:
- Hilary Dennis, Legislative Affairs, (512) 370-1370
- Laurie Reece, executive director, Texas Transplantation
Society, (512) 370-1522
- Barbara James, RN, director, Science and Quality, (512)
370-1400
Overview
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Tax Reform
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Scope of Practice
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Physician Ownership
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Inadequate Health Plan Networks
(Balanced Billing)
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Managed Care/Insurance Reform
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Texas State Board of Medical
Examiners Sunset and Physician Licensure
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Agency Sunset Review
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Corporate Practice of Medicine
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Health Care Funding
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Medicaid and CHIP
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Indigent Care and the
Uninsured
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Workers' Compensation
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Professional Liability Reform
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Medical Education/Workforce
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Child Health, Safety, and
Nutrition/Fitness
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Public Health
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Border Health
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Rural Health
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Mental Health
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Trauma/EMS
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Prescription Drugs
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Medical Science
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Long-Term Care
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Abortion
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Table of Contents
Last Updated On
April 02, 2012
Originally Published On
March 23, 2010