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Minutes for SB194 - Committee on Public Health and Welfare
Short Title
Amending provisions related to the revised uniform anatomical gift act.
Minutes Content for Tue, Mar 12, 2019
Chairperson Suellentrop opened the hearing on SB194.
Scott Abbott, Staff Revisor, gave an overview of the bill. He took questions from committee members.
Dr. Timothy Schmitt provided proponent testimony stating that SB194 would recognize the rights of organ donors in Kansas. He said the availability of organs is limited and the only way to meet the needs of all Kansans who need a transplant is to increase the number of registered organ donors. Organs should remain local as much as possible - they are a gift. They are not a national resource.(Attachment 2)
He answered questions from committee members.
Candace Seaman testified as a proponent of SB194.She was born with Biliary Atresia, a rare congenital pediatric liver disease. The only cure for her condition is a liver transplant. She is now on the transplant list only to find out that she will have to wait longer for the opportunity to get a liver as local organs are going to be shipped further away making her wait time on the list longer, (Attachment 3)
Reagan Cussimanio of the University of Kansas Health System, who was in the audience answered a question from Senator Bollier.
Written proponent testimony was submitted by Rachelle Colombo, Kansas Medical Society. (Attachment 4)
Chairperson Suellentrop closed the hearing on SB194.
Chairperson Suellentrop announced to committee members that a copy of an article about mental health, that was published in the Wichita Business Journal, was included in their folder for today's meeting. (Attachment 5)
Chairperson Suellentrop adjourned the meeting at 10:30 a.m. The next scheduled meeting is March 13, 2019.