Organ donor bill stalls - Virginia

The News Leader | Dave Ress

A bill to require 30 minutes of instruction in driver's education classes on organ donation is dying a quiet death in the General Assembly.

Del. Richard P. "Dickie" Bell's bill was inspired by a campaign by Turner Ashby High School student Maddie Shinaberry, whose life was saved by a lung transplant, and who has been trying to raise awareness of the need for organs for donation.

But the House of Delegates' Students and Early Education Committee recommended "laying the bill on the table," a polite way of saying no, without formally killing it.

Bell, R-Staunton, said Wednesday that he'll work with the Richmond-based United Network for Organ Sharing, the nonprofit that administers the nation's organ transplant system, and other groups trying to expand the number of organs available for transplant on introducing curriculum changes through the state education department.
Read more: http://www.newsleader.com/article/20120126/NEWS01/201260315