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Bill

SJR 159

Designates month of April of each year as "Donate Life Month."

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by John Burzichelli

Designates April as Donate Life Month in New Jersey to promote organ donor registration and awareness, urging public observance through a governor's proclamation and events.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee
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Bill Summary · SJR 159

Summary of SJR 159 (Donate Life Month)

Overview

SJR 159 is a joint resolution introduced in the New Jersey Senate on March 24, 2025, and referred to the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. The bill designates the month of April each year as “Donate Life Month” to promote organ donor registration and celebrate the lives impacted by organ and tissue donation. It is a non-binding resolution intended to honor donors and encourage public awareness and action.

What the bill does

  • Designates April each year as “Donate Life Month” in New Jersey.
  • Requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation urging public officials, residents, and interested groups to observe Donate Life Month with appropriate programs and activities.
  • Takes effect immediately upon enactment (even though it is a resolution, not a statute).

Key provisions and changes

  • Clarifies the purpose of the designation: to promote organ donor registration and celebrate the lives saved and improved through donation.
  • Encourages a broad observance by government, communities, and organizations through programs and activities.
  • Reiterates existing routes for donor registration, including:
    • New Jersey Motor Vehicle Agencies (MVAs)
    • National Donate Life Registry online

Background and intent (as reflected in the bill’s text)

  • Emphasizes that organ donation is lifesaving and benefits thousands of New Jersey residents and their families.
  • Highlights ongoing donor waitlists: nearly 4,000 New Jersey residents and over 100,000 Americans awaiting life-saving transplants.
  • Notes that in the U.S. someone is added to the transplant waitlist every eight minutes, with about 17 deaths per day due to transplant waitlist shortages.
  • Stresses the impact of a single donor (potentially saving eight lives and aiding more than 75 through tissue/eye donation).
  • Cites 2022 data from the NJ Sharing Network: a record year with 283 organ donors saving 670 lives and 40,000 eye/tissue donations in New Jersey.
  • Describes the mismatch between donor registrations and waitlisted patients, underscoring the value of expanding donor registrations.

Who is affected

  • New Jersey residents, particularly adults eligible to register as organ and tissue donors.
  • Public officials, healthcare community groups, and nonprofit organizations involved in organ donation awareness and outreach.
  • Agencies and entities responsible for public health messaging and awareness campaigns.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced in the Senate on March 24, 2025.
  • Referred to the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
  • Being a joint resolution, it serves as a ceremonial designation and advocacy tool rather than a new law or funding program.
  • Companion bill: AJR 170 (as referenced).

Potential impact

  • Primarily a public awareness and cultural designation aimed at increasing donor registration and recognizing donor contributions.
  • No dedicated funding or new regulatory requirements are created by the resolution itself.
  • If observed through Governor’s proclamations and related programs, the designation could contribute to higher registration rates and faster encouragement of donation discussions among families and communities.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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