TITLE
Recommendation to respectfully request Mayor and City Council to recognize April 2008 as DMV/Donate Life California Month and encourage Long Beach residents to register as donors by checking "Yes" when applying for or renewing their driver's license or I.D. Card, or by signing up at www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org or www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org.
DISCUSSION
Donate Life California is a nonprofit Organ and Tissue Donor Registry dedicated to saving the lives of thousands of Californians awaiting life-saving transplants. Officially formed in 2004 after being authorized by the state, California's four federally designated non profit (California Transplant Donor Network, Golden State Donor Services, Lifesharing, OneLegacy) are committed to giving every person waiting for a transplant - a second chance at life.
According to Donate Life California, currently there are nearly 20,000 Californians waiting for an organ transplant. That is 21 percent of the 94,000 people waiting across the country. Tragically, one third of them will die - waiting. Historically, while signing a donor card and placing the pink dot on a driver's license served as an important symbol of intent, it did not place a person on any list or Registry. Now, Donate Life California allows individuals to express their commitment to becoming an organ, eye and tissue donor. The Registry guarantees an individual's plans will be carried out when they die.
Since July 1 st of 2006, individuals who renew or apply for a driver's license or 10 with the DMV, now have the opportunity to also register their decision to be a donor in the Donate Life California Registry, and the pink "DONOR" dot symbol is pre-printed on the applicant's driver license or 10 card.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
None.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Councilmember Suja Lowenthal
Second District