Committee adopts substitute and backs leave for organ and bone‑marrow donors for state employees

The House Insurance Committee adopted a substitute and reported HB 361 favorably, a bill that would expand paid recovery leave for organ donors who are state employees.

Representative Daniels, the sponsor, said the substitute extends recovery leave to 30 days for organ donations and seven days for bone‑marrow donations. "This piece of legislation gives, individuals that are organ donors, especially state employees, the ability, to have, on the during the recovery period, to have, time off, pay time off, and for organ donations, the 30 days, and for, bone marrow, 7 days," Daniels said. The prior statutory language referenced 80 hours of leave.

Daniels framed the bill as a measure to encourage donations: "Alabama we're ranked among the lowest when it comes to organ donations," he said, and noted the bill follows models passed in other states. He also said the measure is supported by the American Kidney Foundation and the Alabama Kidney Foundation.

Several committee members shared personal or family experience with organ disease and treatment during consideration of the substitute. Representative Datcher described direct personal impact from the issue. After discussion and the adoption of the substitute, the committee approved HB 361 as substituted by voice vote (motion mover recorded as Representative Datcher; second recorded as Representative Sellers). The committee did not record a roll‑call tally in the transcript.

If enacted, the substitute would extend paid recovery leave for covered state employees but does not specify funding or administrative implementation details in the bill text; those items would be handled through agency personnel policies or budgetary action.