SACRAMENTO – Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill to help increase California’s participation in the state’s organ, eye and tissue donor program. AB 2096, by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay), will establish a voluntary check-off fund on the state’s income tax forms for Donate Life California, which manages the state’s donor registry.”
More than 23,000 Californians are waiting for lifesaving transplants; 114,000 nationwide,” Frazier said. “Each day, 21 people die in the United States without a transplant. AB 2096 will help close the gap between those on the waiting list and those able to receive the organ transplants that will save their lives.”
Since 2006, Donate Life California has partnered with the DMV to help Californians participate in the organ and tissue donor registry when residents apply for a new or renewed Driver’s License or ID card. Donate Life California’s primary funding source is a voluntary $2 checkoff on these application forms. Californians complete these application forms only once every five years, which limits this as a funding source.
“This limited funding has not stopped DLC from building the largest donor registry in the nation, but we can do even better,” Frazier said. “California’s participation rate is about 8 percent below the national average. A voluntary checkoff fund on state tax forms will give Californians the opportunity to make a contribution to Donate Life California every year. DLC will use this extra funding to increase its outreach efforts and educate more Californians about the life-saving opportunities of participating in the donor registry.”
Assemblymember Frazier represents the 11th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Antioch, Bethel Island, Birds Landing, Brentwood, Byron, Collinsville, Discovery Bay, Fairfield, Isleton, Knightsen, Locke, Oakley, Pittsburg (partial), Rio Vista, Suisun City, Travis AFB, Vacaville and Walnut Grove.
