House bill encourages organ donation
HARRISBURG – The state House of Representatives this week unanimously passed legislation aimed at encouraging more people to donate bone marrow or an organ. House Bill 80, authored by Rep. Robert Godshall, provides a tax credit to employers that grant a paid leave of absence of up to five work days to employees who want to serve as donors.
The credit would be equal to the amount of the employee’s salary, the cost of temporary help and miscellaneous expenses. This way, potential donors won’t have to worry about losing income or employment, which sometimes serves as a deterrent to donating bone marrow or a kidney, Godshall said.
“The employer wouldn’t really lose any funds and it encourages employees to take off time to save a loved one,” said Rep. Scott Petri, R-Northampton, one of 50 co-sponsors of the bill. “I think it’s the right thing to do. I haven’t heard any concerns or objections. This is fairly non-controversial.”
With about 350 Pennsylvanians on average donating organs and bone marrow per year, lawmakers estimate the state will lose about $2 million in tax revenues annually. But they say the benefits are priceless.
“My neighbor passed away about 10 years ago waiting for a liver transplant,” recalled Godshall, R-Hatfield. “At that time, he needed a full liver. But today, they can do a transplant with a partial liver. Today’s technology and this legislation might have saved his life. That’s one of the things that’s always been on my mind.”
Godshall admits that one week usually isn’t enough time to recover from an organ transplant, and donors typically take two-to-four weeks. But his legislation is a start, he says.
“Maybe we can expand [the time period] at a later date,” he said.
The bill, known as the Organ and Bone Marrow Donor Act, also requires the Department of Health to educate the public about bone marrow donations, with a special emphasis on educating and recruiting much-needed minority donors. At the moment, about 6,000 Pennsylvanians are waiting for transplants, Godshall said.
The bill now goes to the Senate for approval. It must also be signed by the governor, who said he supports the concept, before it goes into effect.
“I don’t see how any could be against this bill” Godshall said.