New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 9 - EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT › Subtitle A - Governor's Office › Chapter I - Executive Orders › Part 8 - Executive Orders (Andrew M. Cuomo) › Section 8.171 - Executive Order No. 171: Organ Donation Policy

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
WHEREAS, there is a severe shortage of organs available for
					 transplant in the United States, including in New York; and
WHEREAS, the donation of organs is essential for many
					 life-saving procedures to be performed in New York State; and
WHEREAS, there are approximately 10,000 New Yorkers
					 currently in need of an organ transplant; and
WHEREAS, only twenty-eight percent (28%) of New York's
					 eligible population (approximately 4.5 million) have registered to donate their
					 organs, eyes or tissues; and
WHEREAS, this severe shortage of organs donated and
					 available for transplantation in the State of New York detrimentally affects
					 the health of thousands of our most vulnerable and at risk New Yorkers;
					 and
WHEREAS, an increase in the availability of donated organs,
					 eyes and tissues would reduce the severity and length of many forms of injury
					 and illness and the cost of public medical services, thereby promoting public
					 health and safety; and
WHEREAS, such donations are entirely voluntary and a matter
					 of individual choice, without compensation, and should be encouraged;
					 and
WHEREAS, it is critical that the State of New York take
					 additional steps to ensure that New Yorkers in need have access to viable
					 organs in a timely manner; and
WHEREAS, the State of New York is committed to increasing
					 organ donation and increasing awareness about donation and its benefits; and
					 the State possesses the necessary expertise, resources, and infrastructure to
					 accomplish this goal.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ANDREW M. CUOMO, Governor of the State
					 of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
					 Laws of the State of New York, do hereby order as follows:
I. It is hereby established that the policy
				  of the State of New York is to increase the number of registered organ donors
				  in New York State.
II. To
				  effectuate this policy, the Department of Health is hereby directed to work
				  with the New York State Transplant Council, the New York Alliance for Donation,
				  providers, and hospital systems licensed to provide organ transplant services
				  to develop approaches to increase the number of registered organ donors in the
				  State, including but not limited to opportunities for individuals to enroll in
				  the NYS Donate Life Registry when applying for government benefits, services,
				  and licenses.
III. This approach
				  shall be adopted by all State agencies and departments over which the Governor
				  has executive authority ("State entity").
IV. Every State entity shall cooperate with
				  the Department of Health, and furnish such information and assistance as
				  reasonably necessary. The Department of Health and the Office of lnformation
				  Technology Services are directed to make staff available to provide the State
				  entities with any assistance that may be necessary to ensure effective
				  implementation.
V. Consistent with
				  existing law, organ donor enrollment shall be completely voluntary.
VI. Nothing in this Executive Order shall
				  limit an individual's ability to register as an organ donor through existing
				  means, including but not limited to:
(i)
				  indication made on the application or renewal form of a driver's license,
(ii) indication made on a
				  non-driver identification card application or renewal form,
(iii) indication made on a voter registration
				  form,
(iv) indication made on the
				  application for health care coverage offered through the state health benefit
				  exchange,
(v) enrollment through
				  the donate life registry website,
(vi) paper enrollment submitted to the NYS
				  Donate Life Registry, or
(vii)
				  through any other method identified by the Commissioner of Health.