S.C.R. 6 Enrolled

RESOLUTION URGING AVAILABILITY OF
TRANSPLANT ORGANS THROUGH COMMUNITY
PLEDGE PROGRAMS
2001 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Mike Dmitrich
This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor urges Utah's communities,
businesses, educators, service clubs, and interfaith organizations to lead the way in
organizing efforts to raise public awareness and education regarding organ and tissue
donation to save lives.
Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
WHEREAS, Utah's Coalition for Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation, in partnership with The
Quest for the Gift of Life Foundation, is implementing a statewide, community-based pledge
program to involve local governments, businesses, communities, service clubs, educators, and
interfaith councils to combine efforts in accomplishing meaningful initiatives that will raise public
awareness and education regarding organ transplantation;
WHEREAS, the National Coalition for Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation published
statistics that show 70,000 people are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant with only
6,000 organ donations taking place annually, resulting in 12-16 lives lost daily due to lack of a
needed organ;
WHEREAS, 30% of driver's license donor registrants, upon an unexpected death, do not
become donors because their next of kin were unaware of their desire to donate or their next of kin
chose not to donate regardless of the signed donor registration card; and
WHEREAS, enough organs are available but cannot be accessed due to a lack of education
and a clear understanding about organ and tissue donation, including the misconception that
donations are incompatible with religious beliefs:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
Governor concurring therein, urges Utah's local governments, communities, businesses, educators,
service clubs, and interfaith organizations to pledge to join in "leading the way" by helping to raise

public awareness and education regarding organ and tissue donation for the purpose of saving lives.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor support a spring media
event announcing that Utah is committed to lead the way as a model for other states to follow in
raising public awareness and education, through meaningful organ transplant initiatives, to help
eliminate the existing shortage of transplant organs and to provide all potential recipients a second
chance of life.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Utah Association
of Counties, the Utah League of Cities and Towns, Utah's Chambers of Commerce, the Utah State
Office of Education, the Utah Department of Health, the Utah Coalition for Organ, Eye and Tissue
Donation, the Quest for the Gift of Life Foundation, the Utah Attorney General's Office, the Salt
Lake City Mayor's Office, and the Salt Lake County Mayor's Office.

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