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Counties Applaud Cuomo for Signing Organ Donation Bill

"New York counties enroll organ donors through local departments of motor vehicles (DMV), Boards of Elections, and Social Services offices. Signing this bill will increase New York's organ donation registration numbers and in turn save lives.”
County leaders applaud Governor Andrew M. Cuomo for signing a piece of legislation (S.5101-A, Hannon/A.7431-A, Ortiz) that will help grow New York's organ donation registry, according to the NYS Association of Counties (NYSAC).
“The need for organ donors has never been greater,” said NYSAC President Maggie Brooks, Monroe County Executive. “New York is a leader in so many areas, yet with organ donation registration we fall tragically short of other states. Only 20 percent of New Yorkers age 18 and over have enrolled in the NYS Donate Life Registry as organ, tissue and eye donors – but nationwide, the average is 45 percent.”
 

New York counties enroll organ donors through local departments of motor vehicles (DMV), Boards of Elections, and Social Services offices. Signing this bill will increase New York's organ donation registration numbers and in turn save lives.”By expanding access to the State's registry, this new law will help boost enrollment. That's why we advocated for its passage and that's why we are applauding its enactment today,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario.
Former NYSAC President Ed Diana, the retired Orange County Executive, was on the donor registry for several months before receiving a life-saving liver transplant.
Earlier this year, NYSAC partnered with New York Alliance for Donation (NYAD) to launch the “Working Together, Working for Life” campaign to raise awareness of the importance of organ and tissue donation.
“By raising awareness of the issue, we hope more New Yorkers will sign up. Governor Cuomo and the members of the State Legislature deserve our thanks for this important legislation,” said Acquario.
“This partnership will help save and improve the lives of thousands of New Yorkers in dire need of transplants, said Aisha Tator, NYAD Executive Director. “Nationally, the current waiting list for organs has reached over 122,000 people. Every 13 minutes another person is added to the list and an average of 21 people die each day waiting.  In New York alone, the number of men, women and children waiting for a transplant is over 10,000.”
The partnership was announced in front of hundreds of county officials at NYSAC's Fall Seminar in Lake Placid. NYSAC and NYAD are committed to saving lives by joining together to shape public opinion on the benefits of organ and tissue donation. Click here or scroll down to view the commercial the organizations produced about the initiative.
“This legislation will afford New Yorkers coming to local motor vehicle departments an opportunity to register. Of course, people are not required to register, but this new law allows State and Local DMVs to ask the question,” said Rensselaer County Clerk Frank Merola.
 
Working Together, Working for Life:
Counties and the Alliance for Donation
The New York State Association of Counties is a bipartisan municipal association serving all 62 counties of New York State including the City of New York. Organized in 1925, NYSAC's mission is to represent, educate and advocate for member counties and the thousands of elected and appointed county officials who serve the public. To learn more, visit www.nysac.org.

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