Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) is pleased to announce that A.7915A, a bill that provides New Yorkers with an opportunity to register as organ and tissue donors when applying for or renewing a hunting, fishing or trapping license, recently passed unanimously in the Assembly.

Palmesano co-sponsors the legislation.

“The more times we pose New Yorkers with the question of whether or not they want to give the gift of life, the more times we’re going to hear them say yes,” said Palmesano. “This is just the latest solution we’ve devised to encourage more New Yorkers to enroll in the registry. We have so much work to do to increase our donation rate, and my colleagues and I are going to continue to press forward in a bipartisan way.”

Palmesano is hopeful the bill will easily pass the state Senate and be signed by the governor this session.

In recent years, Palmesano has championed several successful initiatives to make it easier and more convenient for New Yorkers to register as organ and tissue donors, passing legislation establishing the state’s online database and allowing 16 and 17 year-olds to enroll in the registry. He also helped pass Lauren’s law and followed up with legislation to make it permanent.

Palmesano said that there is still a dire need to increase the state’s organ donation rate.

“The statistics are overwhelming and alarming. New York state still ranks 51^st of our 52 states and territories. Nearly 10,000 New Yorkers are on the waiting list for a transplant, and 1,700 of those people have been waiting for at least five years. Tragically, more than 400 New Yorkers die each year waiting for a transplant. We have the third-greatest need for donors, but the second-worst enrollment rate,” said Palmesano.

Palmesano noted that the national donation rate is 54%. The state of Montana ranks first, with a donation rate of 92%. New York State’s rate is only 39%.

“The most powerful and important statistic everyone should know is that one person who donates at the time of their death can save up to eight lives and impact the lives of 75 more people through eye and tissue donation,” said Palmesano.

"Please help us save lives by signing up to become an organ donor today,” urged Palmesano.

Palmesano said individuals who would like to enroll today can easily do so by logging on to the Donate Life Web site.