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[DOCID: f:s1062is.txt]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1062
To amend the Public Health Service Act to promote organ donation and
facilitate interstate linkage and 24-hour access to State donor
registries, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 19, 2001
Mr. Durbin (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Biden, Mrs. Clinton, Mr.
Feingold, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Inouye) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to promote organ donation and
facilitate interstate linkage and 24-hour access to State donor
registries, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as ``The Donor Outreach, Network, and Timely
Exchange Act'' or the ``DONATE Act''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT.
Part H of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 273
et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 371 the following:
``SEC. 371A. NATIONAL ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR REGISTRY RESOURCE CENTER.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Administrator
of the Health Resources and Services Administration, shall establish a
National Organ and Tissue Donor Registry Resource Center (referred to
in this section as the `Center').
``(b) Duties.--The Center established under subsection (a) shall--
``(1) advance the development, expansion, and evaluation of
State donor registries;
``(2) facilitate timely access to and exchange of accurate
donor information between State registries on a 24-hour a day
basis;
``(3) develop consensus guidelines on a standard registry
model, including whether or not such registries should include
living donor information, that represents best practices,
including--
``(A) the core functions and content of a registry;
``(B) clear legal and ethical standards for minimum
levels of information necessary to establish informed
consent;
``(C) standardized, legally verifiable consent
documentation;
``(D) privacy protections, including guidelines for
accessing the registry database;
``(E) data exchange protocols and standards; and
``(F) methods to legally enforce the wishes of the
donor;
``(4) provide technical assistance to the States for the
establishment and operation of State registries, including
assistance in developing model legislation for State
registries; and
``(5) maintain a registry information clearinghouse to
collect, synthesize, and disseminate best practices information
about donor registries, including maintaining a web site.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $5,000,000 for each of the
fiscal years 2002 through 2006.
``SEC. 371B. GRANTS FOR STATE ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR REGISTRIES.
``(a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall award grants or
cooperative agreements to eligible entities to support the development,
enhancement, expansion, and evaluation of State organ and tissue donor
registries.
``(b) Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term `eligible entity'
means a State.
``(c) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant or
cooperative agreement under subsection (a) shall--
``(1) provide for authorization under State law of the
registry;
``(2) establish benchmarks for improvement in organ
donation in the State;
``(3) at a minimum, make registries available to organ
procurement organizations and to other State agencies 24 hours,
7 days a week and without a fee;
``(4) include provisions that protect the privacy of
donors; and
``(5) include legal protections for individuals complying
with the law, including those who carry out advance directives
and organ, tissue, and eye procurement.
``(d) Application.--An entity that desires a grant or cooperative
agreement under subsection (a) shall submit an application to the
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Secretary may reasonably require.
``(e) Report.--An eligible entity that receives a grant or
cooperative agreement under subsection (a) shall prepare and submit a
report to the Secretary that describes the manner in which such entity
has used amounts received through a grant under this section and
assesses initiatives that may be replicated in other States.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $10,000,000 for each of the
fiscal years 2002 through 2006.
``SEC. 371C. ADVISORY TASK FORCE.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish an advisory task
force to study State registries and make recommendations to Congress
regarding such registries.
``(b) Membership.--The task force shall be composed of 10 members
of whom--
``(1) at least 1 member shall be a physician with
experience performing transplants;
``(2) at least 1 member shall have experience in organ
procurement;
``(3) at least 2 members shall be representatives of
organizations with experience conducting national awareness
campaigns and donor outreach;
``(4) at least 2 members shall be representatives of States
with existing donor registries;
``(5) at least 1 member shall have experience with national
information systems where coordination occurs with State-based
systems; and
``(6) at least 1 member shall represent donor families,
transplant recipients, and those awaiting transplantation.
``(c) Term.--Members shall be appointed for 3-year rotating terms.
Any vacancy in the task force shall not affect its powers, but shall be
filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
``(d) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date on
which all members of the task force have been appointed, the task force
shall hold its first meeting.
``(e) Meetings.--The task force shall meet at the call of the
Chairman who shall be selected by the Secretary.
``(f) Compensation.--Each member of the task force shall not
receive compensation for services provided under this section.
``(g) Travel Expenses.--The members of the task force shall be
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at
rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes
or regular places of business in the performance of services for the
task force.
``(h) Administrative Support.--The Secretary shall ensure that the
task force is provided with administrative support or any other
technical assistance that such task force needs in carrying out its
duties.
``(i) Permanent Committee.--Section 14 of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act shall not apply to the task force established under this
section.
``(j) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this section, and in the subsequent year as well, the task force
established under subsection (a) shall prepare and submit to Congress a
report regarding the status of State registries, curr
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ent best
practices, recommendations to increase the number and quality of State
registries, and recommendations regarding the merits of a national
database or ways to improve linkages between State registries and
consider and make recommendations regarding whether any Federal funds
for the establishment of new registries should be limited to State
agency processes that are linked to the ability to make a legally
binding gift.
``SEC. 371D. EXPENSES INCURRED TOWARD LIVING ORGAN DONATION.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants to eligible
entities to pay for travel, subsistence, and other necessary nonmedical
miscellaneous expenses related to living organ donation by any donating
individual.
``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Donating individual.--The term `donating individual'
means any individual who is making, or in good faith plans to
make, a living donation of his or her organs.
``(2) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a
State, transplant center, qualified organ procurement
organization under section 371, or other public or private
entity.
``(3) Necessary nonmedical miscellaneous expenses.--The
term `necessary nonmedical miscellaneous expenses' means such
necessary nonmedical miscellaneous expenses as the Secretary
deems appropriate.
``(c) Preference.--Preference shall be given to intended recipients
or donors of organs with incomes not exceeding $60,000 (as adjusted for
fiscal year 2002 and subsequent fiscal years to offset the effects of
inflation occurring after the beginning of fiscal year 2001).
``(d) Use of Funds.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity that receives a grant
under subsection (a) shall use funds received through such
grant to pay for travel, subsistence, and other necessary
nonmedical miscellaneous expenses of any donating individual.
``(2) Family.--An eligible entity that receives a grant
under subsection (a) may use funds received through such grant
to pay for travel, subsistence, and other necessary nonmedical
miscellaneous expenses of 1 or more family members of any
donating individual to accompany the donating individual in
making the living donation.
``(3) Prohibition.--An eligible entity shall not pay the
travel, subsistence, and other necessary nonmedical
miscellaneous expenses of a donating individual if payment has
been made, or can reasonably be expected to be made, with
respect to such expenses--
``(A) under any State compensation program, under
an insurance policy, or under any Federal or State
health benefits program;
``(B) by an entity that provides health services on
a prepaid basis; or
``(C) by the recipient of the organ.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $15,000,000 for fiscal year
2002, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years
2003 through 2006.
``SEC. 371E. ORGAN DONATION PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM.
``(a) National Program.--The Secretary shall establish a public
education program to increase awareness about organ donation and the
need to provide for an adequate rate of such donations.
``(b) Grants to Entities.--The Secretary may award grants to public
and nonprofit private entities to carry out studies and demonstration
projects with respect to providing for an adequate rate of organ
donation.
``(c) Grants to States.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may award grants to States
to establish programs designed to increase awareness regarding
organ donation and the number of organ donors within the State,
including living donors.
``(2) Use of funds.--A State that receives a grant under
paragraph (1) may use funds received through such grant to--
``(A) work in a partnership with other public
agencies or private sector institutions for education
and awareness efforts, information dissemination,
activities pertaining to the State organ donor
registry, and other innovative donation specific
initiatives, including living donation;
``(B) establish yearly benchmarks for improvement
in organ donation rates in the State; and
``(C) develop, enhance or expand a State donor
registry, which shall be available to organ procurement
organizations and other State agencies upon a search
request 24 hours, 7 days a week.
``(3) Application.--A State shall submit an application at
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as
the Secretary may reasonably require.
``(4) Report.--A State that receives a grant under
paragraph (1) shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a
report on an annual basis that describes the State's use of
funds received under this subsection, and assesses the use of
such funds and any initiatives for potential replication in
other States.
``(d) Report.--The Secretary shall annually submit to the Congress
a report on the activities carried out under this section, including
provisions describing the extent to which the activities have affected
the rate of organ donation.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section, $5,000,000 for fiscal year
2002, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years
2003 through 2006.''.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall design and
strike a bronze medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions,
to be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, to commemorate organ
donors and their families.
(b) Eligibility.--Any organ donor, or the family or family member
of any organ donor, shall be eligible for a medal described in
subsection (a).
(c) Documentation.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
shall direct the entity holding the Organ Procurement and
Transplantation Network (hereafter in this Act referred to as ``OPTN'')
to contract to--
(1) establish an application procedure requiring the
relevant organ procurement organization, as described in
section 371(b)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
273(b)(1)), through which an individual or their family made an
organ donation, to submit to the OPTN contractor documentation
supporting the eligibility of that individual or their family
to receive a medal described in subsection (a); and
(2) determine, through the documentation provided, and, if
necessary, independent investigation, whether the individual or
family is eligible to receive a medal described in subsection
(a).
(d) Delivery to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.--The
Secretary of the Treasury shall deliver medals struck pursuant to this
Act to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(e) Delivery to Eligible Recipients.--The Secretary of Health and
Human Services shall direct the OPTN contractor to arrange for the
presentation to the relevant organ procurement organization all medals
struck pursuant to this Act to individuals or families that the OPTN
contractor has determined to be eligible to receive medals under this
Act.
(f) Limitation.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), only
1 medal may be presented to a family under subsection (b). Such
medal shall be presented to the donating family member, or in
the case of a deceased donor, the family member who signed the
consent form
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authorizing, or who otherwise authorized, the
donation of the organ involved.
(2) Exception.--In the case of a family in which more than
1 member is an organ donor, the OPTN contractor may present an
additional medal to each such organ donor or their family.
(g) Duplicate Medals.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
or the OPTN contractor may provide duplicates of the medal
described in subsection (a) to any recipient of a medal under
subsection (e), under such regulations as the Secretary of
Health and Human Services may issue.
(2) Limitation.--The price of a duplicate medal shall be
sufficient to cover the cost of such duplicates.
(h) National Medals.--The medals struck pursuant to this section
are national medals for purposes of section 5111 of title 31, United
States Code.
(i) General Waiver of Procurement Regulations.--No provision of law
governing procurement or public contracts shall be applicable to the
procurement of goods or services necessary for carrying out the
provisions of this Act.
(j) Solicitation of Donations.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury may enter
into an agreement with the OPTN contractor to collect funds to
offset expenditures relating to the issuance of medals
authorized under this section.
(2) Payment of funds.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), all funds received by the Organ Procurement and
Transplantation Network under paragraph (1) shall be
promptly paid by the Organ Procurement and
Transplantation Network to the Secretary of the
Treasury.
(B) Limitation.--Not more than 5 percent of any
funds received under paragraph (1) shall be used to pay
administrative costs incurred by the OPTN contractor as
a result of an agreement established under this
section.
(3) Numismatic public enterprise fund.--Notwithstanding any
other provision of law--
(A) all amounts received by the Secretary of the
Treasury under paragraph (2)(A) shall be deposited in
the Numismatic Public Enterprise Fund, as described in section 5134 of
title 31, United States Code; and
(B) the Secretary of the Treasury shall charge such
fund with all expenditures relating to the issuance of
medals authorized under this section.
(4) Start-up costs.--A 1-time amount not to exceed $55,000
shall be provided to the OPTN contractor to cover initial
start-up costs. The amount will be paid back in full within 3
years of the date of the enactment of this Act from funds
received under paragraph (1).
(5) No net cost to the government.--The Secretary of the
Treasury shall take all actions necessary to ensure that the
issuance of medals authorized under subsection (a) results in
no net cost to the Government.
(k) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Organ.--The term ``organ'' means the human kidney,
liver, heart, lung, pancreas, and any other human organ (other
than corneas and eyes) specified by regulation of the Secretary
of Health and Human Services or the OPTN contractor.
(2) Organ procurement and transplantation network.--The
term ``Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network'' means
the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network established
under section 372 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
274).
(l) Sunset Provision.--This section shall be effective during the
5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 4. IOM REPORT.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall enter into a contract with the
Institute of Medicine to conduct an evaluation of the organ donation
practices of organ procurement organizations, States, other countries,
and other appropriate organizations that have achieved a higher than
average organ donation rate.
(b) Barriers.--In conducting the evaluation under subsection (a),
the Institute of Medicine shall examine existing barriers to organ
donation.
(c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment
of this section, the Institute of Medicine shall submit to the
Secretary of Health and Human Services a report concerning the
evaluation conducted under this section. Such report shall include
recommendations for administrative actions and, if necessary,
legislation in order to replicate the best practices identified in the
evaluation and to otherwise increase organ donation and procurement
rates.
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM OF GRANTS REGARDING HOSPITAL ORGAN
DONATION COORDINATORS.
Part H of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 273
et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 374 the following:
``SEC. 374A. GRANTS REGARDING HOSPITAL ORGAN DONATION COORDINATORS.
``(a) In General.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may award grants to
qualifying organ donation entities to establish programs
coordinating organ donation activities of eligible hospitals,
including coordinating with qualified organ procurement
organizations under section 371. Such activities shall be
coordinated to increase the rate of organ donations for such
hospitals.
``(2) Eligible hospital.--For purposes of this section, an
eligible hospital is a public or nonprofit private hospital
that performs significant trauma care, or a public or nonprofit
private hospital or consortium of such hospitals that serves a
population base of not fewer than 200,000 individuals.
``(3) Qualifying organ donation entity.--In this section,
the term `qualifying organ donation entity' means--
``(A) an eligible hospital; or
``(B) a qualified organ procurement organization
under section 371.
``(b) Preference in Making Grants.--In making grants under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall give preference to an applicant if
the Secretary determines that the probable result of such a grant would
be a significant increase in the rate of organ donation for the
eligible hospital involved.
``(c) Administration of Coordination Program.--A condition for the
receipt of a grant under subsection (a) is that the applicant involved
agree that the program under such subsection will be carried out
jointly--
``(1) by representatives from the eligible hospital and the
qualified organ procurement organization with respect to which
the grant is made; and
``(2) by such other entities as the representatives
referred to in paragraph (1) may designate.
``(d) Evaluations; Report to Congress.--
``(1) Evaluations.--The Secretary shall, directly or
through contracts with public or private entities, provide for
annual evaluations of programs carried out pursuant to
subsection (a) in order to determine the extent to which the
programs have increased the rate of organ donation for the
eligible hospitals involved.
``(2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on
which amounts are first appropriated pursuant to subsection
(f), and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the
appropriate committees of the Congress a report that summarizes
evaluations under paragraph (1).
``(e) Matching Requirement.--The Secretary may not award a grant to
a qualifying organ donation entity under this section unless such
entity agrees that, with respect to costs to be incurred by the entity
in carrying out activities for which the gr
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ant was awarded, the entity
shall make available (directly or through donations from public or
private entities) non-Federal contributions in an amount equal to 30
percent of the grant awarded to such entity.
``(f) Funding.--
``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--For the purpose of
carrying out this section, there are authorized to be
appropriated $3,000,000 for fiscal years 2002 through 2005.
``(2) Allocation.--Of the amounts appropriated under
paragraph (1) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve 50
percent for grants under subsection (a) to qualifying organ
donation entities described in paragraph (3)(A) of such
subsection and 50 percent for grants under subsection (a) to
qualifying organ donation entities described in paragraph
(3)(B) of such subsection.''.
SEC. 6. LIMITATION.
Nothing in this Act shall affect organ and tissue allocation.
Standard State and national practices that determine the appropriate
procurement organization for obtaining consent for an individual organ
or tissue donation shall continue to apply to such determinations.
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