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Committee backs outreach and hospital prompts to boost organ‑donor registrations
Summary
HB117 would add organ‑donor prompts on high‑traffic state websites and ask hospitals to offer information before discharge; committee favorably recommended the substitute unanimously after presentations from Rep. Owens and Donor Connect.
Representative Owens told the committee HB117 aims to close a gap between public willingness to donate and actual registrations by using state websites and hospital touchpoints to drive people to the state donor registry. "We have about 55% of the state signed up to be organ donors," he said, and described two different annual tallies: roughly 80 Utahns who die each year waiting for an organ and about 300 who die under circumstances in which they might have been donors.
Mark Dixon, director of public education for Donor Connect, explained the organization serves Utah as the organ procurement organization and maintains the state donor registry, which medical providers check and which supersedes the donor indication on a driver's license. Justin Shannon of the Division of Wildlife Resources said his agency added donor information to its high‑traffic site in coordination with Donor Connect and supports the bill.
Senator Escamilla moved to favorably recommend HB117 for substitute; the committee approved the motion unanimously. Supporters said the bill is a modest, public‑education approach and urged passage to increase registrations and reduce waiting lists.
Action taken: Committee favorably recommended HB117 to the Senate floor.
