The New York Senate and Assembly passed S5313A and A4990B to help increase enrollments in the state registry by lowering the age of consent for New Yorkers who choose to become a donor. New York State is one of only four states in the nation that requires an individual be 18 or older to enroll in an organ and tissue donor registry. As a result of this situation, young adults are left without a way to enroll in the donor registry. They are unable to register their consent even with parental consent.

Once signed by the Governor’s office, this legislation will give New Yorkers aged 16 or older who wish to consent to donation the ability to enroll in the state’s Donate Life Registry. The enrollment of a 16 or 17 year old would be subject to revocation by their parents and these enrollments would convert to full consent upon the individual’s 18th birthday. Note that in the event that the young adult may be considered for organ, eye, or tissue donation, the parents of that individual would be notified and would need to provide the final authorization for donation to take place.

Our efforts with respect to this legislation have worked well so far and both Houses passed the bills. We need your help with this call to action as we urge Governor Cuomo to sign A.4990B-Ortiz/S.5313A-Hannon.

Now, it’s time to send emails to the Governor’s Legislative Secretary at legislative.secretary@exec.ny.gov.

Please let us know that you sent this important correspondence as soon as possible. Please cc Aisha Tator, Executive Director- New York Alliance for Donation at atator@alliancefordonation.org when you send the emails.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Mike Sosna

Here is the email template followed by a note from Aisha Tator, Executive Director- New York Alliance for Donation, Inc.

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Dear Governor Cuomo,

I am urging your support of A.4990-B (Ortiz) – S.5313-A (Hannon), which would require that the NYS Donate Life Registry provide a means by which sixteen and seventeen year olds can register their consent to donate, subject to revocation by their parents, which would then convert to full consent upon the individual reaching eighteen years of age.

Many young New Yorkers believe that registering as an organ donor is an important community responsibility, and have expressed a desire to register in the NYS Donate Life Registry. However, NYS only allows individuals eighteen years and older to consent to donate their organs and tissues, and to register their consent in the NYS Donate Life Registry. This leaves young people without a way to express their consent to donate, and leaves parents with the difficult responsibility of determining if their teenage children would want to make the gift of life, should a tragic situation arise.

Currently, NYS drivers are first presented with the opportunity to register in the Donate Life Registry when they receive their driver’s permit at age sixteen, but they are unable to join the registry. Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) automatic renewal policies and procedures do not prompt consideration of enrollment by a young driver again until their mid-twenties, which delays the opportunity for the State to offer another chance to enroll in the registry.

Currently, 48 states have either no restriction on the minimum age for an organ donor or allow for registration at an age younger than eighteen. I believe that NYS should join the majority of other states in allowing persons aged sixteen and older to express their consent to donate and enroll in the NYS Donate Life Registry. However, in the event that the young person may be considered for organ, eye or tissue donation, the parents of that individual will be contacted and will give the final permission for the donation to take place.

Respectfully, [INSERT ORGANIZATION NAME] urges you to approve A.4990-B (Ortiz) / S.5313-A (Hannon).

Sincerely,

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Good afternoon,

The New York Alliance for Donation (NYAD) is launching an important call to action to urge Governor Cuomo to sign (A.4990B-Ortiz/S.5313A-Hannon), which would require that the NYS Donate Life Registry provide a means by which sixteen and seventeen year olds can register their consent to donate.

Below are instructions for this communication.

• Personalize the attached email template.
• Email letters of support to the Governor’s Legislative Secretary at legislative.secretary@exec.ny.gov by August 19 with the subject line ‘Sign A.4990B (Ortiz) / S.5313A (Hannon).
• Please cc: me on all emails to the Governor’s office at atator@alliancefordonation.org .

Thank you for being an advocate for the donation community!

Very truly,
Aisha M. Tator
Executive Director
New York Alliance for Donation, Inc.