Bill Text: NJ AR236 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Commissioner of Education to require school districts to use uniform curriculum designed by certain organ procurement organization in meeting curriculum requirements on organ donation.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-11 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [AR236 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-AR236-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DECLAN J. O'SCANLON, JR.
District 13 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Commissioner of Education to require school districts to use uniform curriculum designed by certain organ procurement organization in meeting curriculum requirements on organ donation.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the Commissioner of Education to require school districts to use uniform curriculum on organ donation.
Whereas, The "New Jersey Hero Act," enacted in 2008, implemented several initiatives to educate State residents regarding the benefits of organ and tissue donation and to encourage positive donation decisions; and
Whereas, Section three of the "New Jersey Hero Act," P.L.2008, c.48 (C.18A:7F-4.3), requires that the Core Curriculum Content Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education for students in grades nine through 12 include instruction in organ and tissue donation; and
Whereas, The goals of the high school instruction under the Hero Act include emphasizing the benefits of organ and tissue donation so that students will be motivated to make an affirmative donation decision as adults, to address myths and misunderstandings regarding organ and tissue donation, to explain the options available, and to instill an understanding of the consequences when an individual does not make a decision to become an organ donor; and
Whereas, The instruction also must inform students that, beginning five years after enactment of the Hero Act, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission will not issue or renew a New Jersey driver's license or personal identification card unless the licensee or card holder makes an acknowledgement regarding the donor decision; and
Whereas, Although the Hero Act sets forth the goals of the instruction in organ and tissue donation, a uniform curriculum to implement the instruction is not currently utilized in the State across all school districts; and
Whereas, Under federal law, the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services designates an organ procurement organization for each service area in the country; and
Whereas, The federally designated organ procurement organization that serves the largest portion of New Jersey's population offers comprehensive educational program materials to teach high school students about the importance and benefits of organ and tissue donation and to provide students with the knowledge and resources necessary to make an informed decision about donation; and
Whereas,
Requiring school districts to use a uniform curriculum designed by the organ
procurement organization serving the largest portion of the State would ensure
that comprehensive and consistent instruction is provided to all New Jersey
high school students regarding the benefits of organ and tissue donation and the
tools for making an informed donation choice; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Commissioner of Education is urged to require school districts to use a uniform organ and tissue donation curriculum designed by the organ procurement organization serving the largest portion of the State's population, in fulfilling the high school curriculum requirements of section three of the "New Jersey Hero Act," P.L.2008, c.48 (C.18A:7F-4.3). The Commissioner of Education is further urged to work in consultation with the organ procurement organization to make the curriculum materials available to school districts and high school educators.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Commissioner of Education and to each member of the State Board of Education.
STATEMENT
Section three of the "New Jersey Hero Act," P.L.2008, c.48 (C.18A:7F-4.3), requires that the Core Curriculum Content Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education for students in grades nine through 12 include instruction in organ and tissue donation. This resolution urges the Commissioner of Education to require school districts to use a uniform curriculum designed by the organ procurement organization serving the largest portion of the State in fulfilling this instruction requirement. Requiring school districts to use a uniform curriculum on organ donation would help ensure that comprehensive and consistent instruction is provided to all New Jersey high school students regarding the benefits of organ and tissue donation and the tools for making an informed donation choice.
