Committee hears bill to add paid leave for living organ and bone marrow donors; motion to hold

Senate Bill 829, the Rhode Island Bone Marrow and Organ Donor Leave Act sponsored by Senator Murray, would allow qualified employees to take paid medical leave for procedures, testing or recovery related to living organ donation or bone marrow donation. The bill would permit up to 30 days for organ donation and up to five days for bone marrow donation.

Senator Murray said the statute would ensure employees can keep their jobs and benefits while donating. "So this act would mandate paid leave by allowing qualified employees to take medical leave to undergo donation procedures, medical tests, or recovery related to being a living organ donor or bone marrow transplant donor," she said. Michael, representing the American Kidney Fund, testified in support and described the small number of living kidney donors in the state and the potential public-health and fiscal benefits of increasing living donation: "Increasing the number of living donors is the surest and fastest way to reduce the number of Rhode Islanders on the transplant wait list," he said.

Witnesses noted the bill likely would operate through Rhode Island’s existing paid medical leave systems (testimony referenced Temporary Disability Insurance and the Family and Medical Leave Act in drafting concerns). Committee members and stakeholders discussed technical drafting to avoid unintended interactions with existing leave laws; the committee ultimately voted to hold the bill for further drafting work.