You asked (1) how many organ donors are in Connecticut, (2) how Connecticut recruits new organ donors, (3) whether any states waive driver's license renewal fees when people agree to become organ donors, and (4) what other ways states have tried to increase the number of organ donors.

SUMMARY

The total number of organ donors in Connecticut is unknown, but there are currently 704,370 registered donors in the state. Connecticut recruits organ donors primarily through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). We did not find any states that waive driver's license fees for organ donors. Georgia is currently the only state that reduces the fee for donors. Efforts to increase organ donation in other states include public and professional education as well as training of people requesting donation. They also include various federal and state legislative measures such as the use of donor cards to indicate a preference for donation and the development of donor registries.

ORGAN DONORS IN CONNECTICUT

The total number of organ donors in Connecticut is unknown because as of 1999, people are no longer required to formally register with the DMV. Interested people can now complete a short form on the back of their driver's license at any time. As a result, DMV cannot track those figures. There are currently 704,370 registered organ donors in Connecticut.

RECRUITMENT OF ORGAN DONORS IN CONNECTICUT

Connecticut recruits new organ donors primarily through the DMV. Driver's license applications include a section where people can indicate their willingness to become organ donors. In addition, driver's license renewal mailings include a uniform donor card.

WAIVING OF DMV FEES

We did not find any states that waive driver's license renewal fees for people who agree to become organ donors. Currently, Georgia is the only state that charges a lower license fee for people who agree to become organ donors. A bill was introduced during Connecticut's current legislative session to reduce the driver's license fee by $20 for organ donors, but the transportation committee did not act on it (HB 5461).

ORGAN DONOR RECRUITMENT IN OTHER STATES

Efforts to increase organ donation in other states include public and professional education as well as training of people requesting donation. They also include various federal and state legislative measures such as the use of donor cards to indicate a preference for donation and the development of donor registries. Donor registries are often used as tools to increase public awareness and general knowledge of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

Education Programs

State legislation affects the development of donor registries through public education in three general ways: increasing opportunities to make a financial gift to donor awareness trust funds, expanding organ and tissue donation educational programs to schools and public events, and creating multimedia campaigns. Following is an overview of state activity.

· States that provide the option of making a voluntary gift to fund donor awareness and educational programs at the time of driver's license renewal include: Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

· Arkansas, Louisiana, and Missouri have created multimedia donor awareness campaigns that use posters, television commercials, and radio advertisements.

· Florida and Missouri have created youth education programs in the secondary schools.

· Iowa allows county treasurers to collect funds for awareness grants.

· Louisiana and Michigan have educational sessions and registration information at many public events, such as art and health fair booths, church programs, and driver's education training.

· Ohio is considering implementing an educational program that would automatically send donor information to individuals as a birthday card.

· Oregon sells special license plates to raise funds for donor awareness and education programs.

· Pennsylvania allows individuals to contribute to a donor awareness fund on income tax return forms.

· Louisiana has a statement of need in the state driver's license manual.

· California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee, and Virginia (1) provide informational pamphlets and display posters, and (2) show videos about organ donation at the time of driver's license renewal, when people are asked to be donors.

· The District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island laws require that donor information be included with driver's license renewal notices.

Donor Registries

Two methods of donor documentation currently exist to record an individual's donation wishes. The first is a donor card that is specifically designed to outline an individual's donation wishes and signed by the individual. The second method is designation on a state-issued driver's license, usually in a conspicuous location on the front of the license. Thirty states currently use donor cards in addition to a driver's license designation, while three states (California, New Jersey, and North Carolina) use donor cards instead of driver's license designation.

· States with legislation that officially created donor registries through the divisions of motor vehicles include: Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

· California created a donor registry through its Department of Health and Human Services.

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