Ohio Legislature Introduces UAGA

5/5/08 - The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) has issued a major revision to the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA). The first revision in nearly 20 years, the proposed UAGA seeks to facilitate donation by making the process uniform in all 50 states. The first UAGA was promulgated in 1968 and was adopted by all 50 states and the District of Columbia. To help overcome the donor shortage, a revision was proposed in 1987, but it was enacted by only 26 states – Ohio was not one of them. Consequently, there is significant non-uniformity between states relating to the process of donating organs, tissue and eyes.

The Uniform Anitomical Gift Act was introduced to the Ohio House of Representatives 127th General Assembly on April 9, 2008 by Ohio House of Representative Lynn Wachtmann as House Bill 529.

Donor wife Jean Shumaker, of Upper Sandusky, OH, gave proponent testimony April 16, representing a citizen touched by donation. Shumaker's grandson is a liver recipient too.