THOMAS DALEY GIFT OF LIFE FUND H.B. 4978 (H-2):
COMMITTEE SUMMARY
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House Bill 4978 (Substitute H-2 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Kevin Daley
House Committee: Transportation
Senate Committee: Transportation
Date Completed: 2-6-12
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to create the "Thomas Daley Gift of Life Fund" for the administration and maintenance of the State anatomical gift donor registry program, and repeal a section establishing the Organ and Tissue Donation Education Fund.
The bill would take effect on June 30, 2012, and is tie-barred to Senate Bill 534. (That bill, as passed by the House, would authorize the Secretary of State to issue a fund-raising license plate recognizing anatomical gift donation, and require donations for the plates to be disbursed to the Thomas Daley Gift of Life Fund.)
House Bill 4978 (H-2) would repeal Section 217o of the Vehicle Code, which provides for the Organ and Tissue Donation Education Fund within the State Treasury. Section 217o requires the State Treasurer to disburse money in the Fund on a monthly basis to the Chronic Disease Division of the Department of Community Health, which must use the money to provide grants for programs and initiatives to encourage Michigan residents to place their names on the organ donor registry.
The bill also would eliminate a requirement that the Secretary of State, in conjunction with an application for a driver license, give the applicant an opportunity to make a donation of at least $1 to the Fund.
The bill would create the Thomas Daley Gift of Life Fund within the State Treasury. The State Treasurer could receive money or other assets from any source for deposit into the Fund. The State Treasurer would have to direct the Fund's investment, and credit to it any interest and earnings. Money in the Fund at the close of the fiscal year would remain in the Fund and could not lapse to the General Fund. Money in the existing Organ and Tissue Donation Education Fund would have to be transferred to the proposed Fund.
The Department of State would be the administrator of the proposed Fund for auditing purposes.
The Department would have to spend money from the Fund, upon appropriation, for the administration and maintenance of the State anatomical gift donor registry program under the Public Health Code. Any money remaining in the Fund could be spent for the ongoing development and administration of the Department's public information campaign concerning the Michigan organ donation program.
MCL 257.307 et al. Legislative Analyst: Julie Cassidy
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on the Department of State. Any costs associated with administration of the proposed Thomas Daley Gift of Life Fund would be paid from the proceeds of the money transferred from the Organ and Tissue Donation Education Fund to the proposed Gift of Life Fund. The balance in the Organ and Tissue Donation Education Fund at the end of FY 2009-10 was an estimated $4,500.
The bill would have no fiscal impact on local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. hb4978/1112