Lauren’s Law Passed in Senate and Assembly

Next stop: Governor’s desk

The New York State Senate joined with its Assembly counterparts in passing Lauren’s Law, which aims to boost organ donations, on Wednesday, June 20. It was passed unanimously.

The bill (S.7103A) now heads to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.

The bill expands the donor options on driver’s license applications to require individuals who apply for a driver’s license to complete the organ donor registry section by selecting either “yes” or “skip this question.” Currently, the section is optional.

The bill is named after Lauren Shields of Stony Point, a 12-year-old girl who received a heart transplant in 2009.

“We commend the tremendous efforts of the New York State Legislature to pass this life-saving legislation,” said Helen Irving, president and CEO of the New York Organ Donor Network. “We are thrilled that New York is making great strides towards increasing the number of New Yorkers enrolled to be organ donors and increasing the number of lives that are saved with organ transplants across the state each year.”

There will be a press conference with Lauren Shields and statewide organ donation advocacy groups at 12 p.m. on Friday, June 22 at 95 South Middletown Road, Nanuet.

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