S.C.R. 6

1

RESOLUTION URGING AVAILABILITY OF
2 TRANSPLANT ORGANS THROUGH COMMUNITY
3 PLEDGE PROGRAMS
4 2001 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Sponsor: Mike Dmitrich
7 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor urges Utah's communities,
8 businesses, educators, service clubs, and interfaith organizations to lead the way in
9 organizing efforts to raise public awareness and education regarding organ and tissue
10 donation to save lives.
11 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
12 WHEREAS, Utah's Coalition for Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation, in partnership with The
13 Quest for the Gift of Life Foundation, is implementing a statewide, community-based pledge
14 program to involve local governments, businesses, communities, service clubs, educators, and
15 interfaith councils to combine efforts in accomplishing meaningful initiatives that will raise public
16 awareness and education regarding organ transplantation;
17 WHEREAS, the National Coalition for Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation published
18 statistics that show 70,000 people are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant with only
19 6,000 organ donations taking place annually, resulting in 12-16 lives lost daily due to lack of a
20 needed organ;
21 WHEREAS, 30% of driver's license donor registrants, upon an unexpected death, do not
22 become donors because their next of kin were unaware of their desire to donate or their next of kin
23 chose not to donate regardless of the signed donor registration card; and
24 WHEREAS, enough organs are available but cannot be accessed due to a lack of education
25 and a clear understanding about organ and tissue donation, including the misconception that
26 donations are incompatible with religious beliefs:
27 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the

28 Governor concurring therein, urges Utah's local governments, communities, businesses, educators,
29 service clubs, and interfaith organizations to pledge to join in "leading the way" by helping to raise
30 public awareness and education regarding organ and tissue donation for the purpose of saving
31 lives.
32 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor support a spring
33 media event announcing that Utah is committed to lead the way as a model for other states to
34 follow in raising public awareness and education, through meaningful organ transplant initiatives,
35 to help eliminate the existing shortage of transplant organs and to provide all potential recipients
36 a second chance of life.
37 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Utah
38 Association of Counties, the Utah League of Cities and Towns, Utah's Chambers of Commerce,
39 the Utah State Office of Education, the Utah Department of Health, the Utah Coalition for Organ,
40 Eye and Tissue Donation, the Quest for the Gift of Life Foundation, the Utah Attorney General's
41 Office, the Salt Lake City Mayor's Office, and the Salt Lake County Mayor's Office.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-22-01 1:08 PM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel