Gov. Mike Parson signed House Bill 2129 on Thursday in Jefferson City seeking to increase education opportunities on organ, eye and tissue donation for high school students in Missouri. Under the law, when a state or nationally recognized organization requests to make a presentation on organ, eye and tissue donation, the school board must allow 30 minutes for the presentation. The school board will then determine if the information will be shared with students and parents within the school district.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed House Bill 2129 with donor families, transplant recipients and representatives from Mid-America Transplant, Midwest Transplant Network and Gift of Life.
State Rep. Steve Cookson of Poplar Bluff sponsored the bill with co-sponsors Reps. Warren Love and Karla May. The bill received bipartisan support in the Missouri House of Representatives and Senate. Rep. Cookson collaborated with representatives from Mid-America Transplant, Midwest Transplant Network (MTN), and Gift of Life. MTN is an organ procurement organization based in Kansas City. Gift of Life is a Kansas City-based nonprofit organization that offers educational information to schools, civic groups and spiritual communities.
“This is an exciting day for the 1,800 Missourians awaiting a lifesaving transplant today,” said Diane Brockmeier, President and CEO of Mid-America Transplant. “This bill will allow more Missourians to receive lifesaving education and make an informed, personal decision about organ and tissue donation. We are inspired by the dedication and diligence Rep. Cookson has shown leading up to this day. We thank Reps. Cookson, Love and May for their hard work, and we thank Gov. Parson for signing this important bill into law.”