Anatomical gift program donation

People applying for a driver’s license or state identification card are already asked if they want to be an organ donor. They may also be asked to contribute financially.

Rep. Sarah Anderson (R-Plymouth) sponsors HF808 that would establish a

$2 donation option “for the purposes of public information and education on anatomical gifts.”

The money would be used as grants to federally certified organ procurement organizations and nonprofit organizations that advocate for organ and tissue donation. Funds would also cover all Department of Public Safety expenses to implement the program.

Approved 131-0 by the House May 16, it was tabled the next day by the Senate, where Sen. David Senjem (R-Rochester) is the sponsor. The provision is also in the omnibus transportation policy bill, HF1068.

Anderson said more than 2 million Minnesotans are currently signed up for organ donation; a rate of about 50 percent.

“The other eight states that currently have this language in place far exceed organ donation compared to Minnesota,” she said. “Alaska has an organ donation checkoff rate of 76 percent; Montana 76 percent; Washington at 72 percent and the list goes on. This is an effort to make people more aware of this and try and save lives.”