DRIVER LICENSE/ANATOMICAL GIFTS                                                      S.B. 541 (S-3):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                                  ON THIRD READING

Senate Bill 541 (Substitute S-3 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)

Sponsor:  Senator John Proos

Committee:  Transportation

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to do the following:

-- Require the Secretary of State to inquire, orally or in writing, whether an applicant for an original or renewal operator's or chauffeur's license wished to participate in the Anatomical Gift Donor Registry Program, if the applicant were not already a participant.

-- Specify that the Secretary of State or an employee would not be civilly or criminally liable for failure to inquire.

-- Give the Secretary of State the option to provide organ donor information orally, rather than in printed material, when an applicant appeared at a branch office.

-- Specify that the Secretary of State would not be required to maintain a record of an individual who did not indicate a willingness to have his or her name placed on the donor registry of the Anatomical Gift Donor Registry Program, or did not respond to the inquiry about participating in the Program.

The Code requires the Secretary of State to give all of the following to an applicant for an operator's or chauffer's license:

-- Information explaining the applicant's right to make an anatomical gift in the event of death.

-- Information describing the Anatomical Gift Donor Registry Program under Part 101 of the Public Health Code, including the address and telephone number of Michigan's federally designated organ procurement organization or its successor organization.

-- Information giving the applicant the opportunity to be placed on the donor registry.

The Secretary of State also must give the applicant the opportunity to specify on his or her operator's or chauffeur's license that he or she is willing to make an anatomical gift in the event of death.

The bill would take effect 90 days after enactment.

MCL 257.307                                                           Legislative Analyst:  Drew Krogulecki

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed:  3-9-16                                                     Fiscal Analyst:  Joe Carrasco

This 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.