Add §50-d, Civ Serv L; add §596-a, Lab L; amd §§4310 & 206, rpld §4310 sub 5 ¶¶(b) & (c), Pub Health L; amd
§§3006 & 6501, Ed L; amd §651, Tax L; amd §401, V & T L; amd §§464 & 468-a, Judy L; add §91-a, Exec L
Requires that space be provided on applications for a civil service examination, claims for unemployment benefits, applications for the practice of a profession or occupation, state income tax returns, and applications to register a motor vehicle, for the applicant to register in the "donate life registry" for organ, eye and tissue donation established pursuant to section 4310 of the public health law.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A3920
SPONSOR: Dinowitz TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the civil service law, the labor law, the public health
law, the education law, the tax law, the vehicle and traffic law, the
judiciary law and the executive law, in relation to requiring certain
state forms and applications to include space for registering in the
"donate life registry" for organ, eye and tissue donations; and to
repeal certain provisions of the public health law relating thereto
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Requires election for registration for organ, eye and tissue donations
to be included on various state forms
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill adds § 50-d to •the civil service law which
requires all applications issued under the department of civil service
and municipal commissions to include a space for the applicant to regis-
ter in the "donate life registry."
Section two of the bill adds § 596-a to the labor law which requires
all unemployment insurance claim registration documents to include a
space for the claimant to register in the "donate life registry".
Section three of the bill amends paragraph (a) of subdivision 5 of §
4310 of the public health law to allow for the election of registry in
the "donate life registry" through certain state forms.
Section three-a of the bill amends paragraph (a) of subdivision 5 of §
4310 of the public health law to apply the same amendment as applied in
section three of the bill due to chapter 159 of the laws of 2024.
Section four of the bill repeals paragraphs (b) and (c) of subdivision
5 of § 4310 of the public health law and adds a new paragraph (b) which
allows for registry in the "donate life registry" through the donate
life website and electronic signature authorization.
Section five of the bill re-letters paragraphs (d), (e), and (f) of
subdivision 5 of § 4310 of the public health law to paragraphs (c), (d),
and (e).
Section six of the bill adds paragraphs (w), (x), (y), (z), (aa),
(bb), (cc), and (dd) to subdivision 1 of § 206 of the public health law
to set forth guidelines relating thereto and require the cooperation of
executive departments of state.
Section seven of the bill adds subdivision 4 § 3006 of the Education
Law to allow for the inclusion of space for persons applying for teach-
ing certifications to register in the "donate life registry."
Section eight of the bill adds subdivision 3 to § 6501 of the educa-
tion law to allow applicants for professional licenses issued by the
Department of Education to elect to register in the "donate life regis-
try."
Section nine of the bill adds subsection (a-1) to § 651 of the tax law
to allow for the inclusion on state tax forms of a checkbox allowing
taxpayers to elect to register in the "donate life registry."
Section ten of the bill adds a closing paragraph to paragraph (b) of
subdivision 1 of § 401 of the vehicle and traffic Law to allow for the
inclusion on each application for registration and/or renewal of a motor
vehicle of a checkbox allowing applicants to elect to register in the
"donate life registry."
Section eleven of the bill adds a closing paragraph to § 464 of the
judiciary law by allowing for the inclusion of space on applications for
admission to the practice of law of a checkbox allowing applicants to
elect to register in the "donate life registry."
Section twelve of the bill adds subdivision 4-a to § 468-A of the
judiciary law by allowing for the inclusion of a space on biennial
attorney registration forms for the renewing attorney to elect to regis-
ter in the "donate life registry."
Section thirteen of the bill adds a new § 91-a to the executive law to
include space on applications for business licenses for applicants to
elect to register in the "donate life registry," for professions and/or
occupations licensed or registered by the Department of State.
Section fourteen sets forth the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
New York State is ranked 3rd among states which hold the highest need
for organ, tissue and eye transplants. At present, nearly 9,500 individ-
uals are in need of an organ transplant. 1,700 of these individuals have
been on a waiting list for longer than 5 years. Last year more than 400
individuals died because they weren't able to receive a transplant in
time.
Under this legislation, more New Yorkers would be presented with the
option of being listed on the Donate Life Registry. While there has been
significant progress in increasing donor-ship, opt-in elections are
currently limited to (1) driver's license or non-driver ID applications
and renewal forms, (2) voter registration forms, (3) NY State of Health
applications for coverage, (4) enrollment through the Donate Life Regis-
try website and (5) paper enrollment forms submitted to the Donate Life
Registry. This legislation would greatly expand the number of ways New
Yorkers can elect to be organ donors by adding:
*Applications for examinations administered by the New York State
Department of Civil Service and the municipal civil service commissions;
*Application for unemployment insurance benefits as administered by the
New York State Department of Labor;
*Applications for teaching certifications/licenses as issued by the New
York State Department of Education;
*Applications for professional licenses as issued by the New York State
Department of Education;
*New York State income tax forms;
*Applications for the registration and renewal of motor vehicles;
*Applications for admission to the practice of law;
*Biennial registration renewal forms, as filed by attorneys; and
*Applications to conduct a profession or occupation as licensed by the
New York Department of State.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: A.3516 - Health
2022: A.2159 - Rules
2021: A.2159 - Health
2019-20: A.2882 - Health
2017-18: A.10597 - Health / S.8509 - Reported to Health
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however, that
section three-a of this act shall take effect on the same date and in
the same manner as chapter 149 of the laws of 2020 takes effect. Effec-
tive immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or
regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective
date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before
such effective date.
