Report Title:

Blood Donation; Age Requirement; Minor

 

Description:

Lowers the minimum age requirement for blood donation to sixteen years old with parental consent.

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

567

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to health.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that only thirty-eight per cent of the United States population is eligible to give blood.  In order to help increase the number of eligible donors, foster a commitment to blood donation, and enhance our ability to meet the growing demand for blood, individuals who have attained the age of sixteen should be eligible to donate blood voluntarily with parental consent.

     Twenty-three states have passed legislation or adopted variances recognizing sixteen year olds as eligible voluntary blood donors with parental consent.  Two states also allow donations by sixteen year olds without parental consent.  Wisconsin passed legislation, which took effect on March 14, 2008, resulting in more than one thousand three hundred donations to the Red Cross to date from sixteen year old blood donors.  Approximately twenty per cent of blood donations made to the mainland Red Cross come from high school and college blood drives.

     The purpose of this Act is to lower the minimum age requirement for blood donation to sixteen years of age, provided that parental consent shall be required.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§321-    Blood donations; age of donor.  (a)  Any person eighteen years of age or older may donate blood in any voluntary and noncompensatory blood program without the necessity of obtaining parental permission or authorization.

     (b)  Any person who is sixteen years of age or older but who has not attained the age of eighteen may donate blood in a voluntary and noncompensatory blood program if the person obtains written permission from the person's parent or guardian."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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