Committee backs bill encouraging organ‑donation education for ninth graders

The House Committee on Education and Workforce on Tuesday adopted a substitute and voted to report House Bill 53‑38, which would encourage the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to offer an optional organ‑ and tissue‑donation education session to ninth‑grade students.

The bill’s H‑1 substitute, described by the sponsor as a narrow cleanup, clarifies that MDE may work with federally designated organ procurement organizations. "This cleans up some language," Representative Koontz said when moving the substitute, adding it was intended to ensure there are "no bad actors" in the language. The committee approved the substitute by roll call, 10 ayes, 0 nays.

The principal witness, Patrick Wills O’Brien, vice president of communications and external relations for Gift of Life Michigan, told the committee the state’s organ‑donor registry has about 2,700 people waiting for transplants and that roughly 4,700,000 Michiganders have a donor designation on their driver’s license. He said only about 35% of Michigan teens say "yes" when asked to register, while other states with school education programs see rates as high as 50%.

"Gift of Life Michigan has a free program where we go in for one school hour to ninth graders to just give them the information about organ and tissue donation," Wills O’Brien said. He told lawmakers that after the session about 70% of teens are more open or willing to register because they have the information.

Committee members pressed on details during questioning. Representative Linting asked whether the bill would mandate instruction or allow student sign‑ups in school; Wills O’Brien said the proposal is a recommendation, not a requirement, and that the program would be education only — there would be no point during the school session where staff ask students to register. He confirmed that parents may opt their children out of the program and that parents retain decision authority for a minor who registers with the secretary of state until adulthood.

Representative Pavlov, recounting a personal loss, asked about the determination of death; Wills O’Brien emphasized that the declaration of death is made solely by medical professionals and that organ‑recovery teams operate only after that declaration.

Support for the bill was recorded on the committee record: the Michigan Health and Hospital Association submitted a card indicating support and did not request to speak.

After discussion, Vice Chair Linting moved to report the bill as H‑1 with recommendation; the clerk announced the motion prevailed with 8 yays, 0 nays and 2 pass. The committee’s action advances the bill to the next stage with the adopted clarification in place.