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Lower blood donation age

Published (3/21/2008)
By Patty Ostberg
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Gov. Tim Pawlenty presents the pen he used to sign into law a bill lowering the age for which a person can donate blood to Joe Gibson, the Blooming Prairie teenager who inspired the legislation. Also at the March 18 bill signing are the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Patti Fritz, left, and Sen. Kathy Sheran, center right.

Starting July 1 of this year, 16 year olds will be able to donate blood with written permission from their parent or guardian. Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed the new law March 18.

Sponsored by Rep. Patti Fritz (DFL-Faribault) and Sen. Kathy Sheran (DFL-Mankato), the change was the idea of high school student Joe Gibson, who came up with the proposal after seeing his grandfather’s energy increase after blood transfusions during cancer treatments. Gibson said he attempted to give blood at his local high school blood drive soon after, but was turned away because the current age requirement is 17.

Several other states already allow 16 year olds to donate including: California, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, Washington and Puerto Rico.

HF1066/SF2471*/CH157

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