Posted on 02/18/2005 6:35:32 AM PST by LurkedLongEnough
HARTFORD — Besides being an incredibly selfless act, donating your kidney or bone marrow to help another can be very expensive.
Two local lawmakers hope to provide some relief in the form of a tax credit.
Their proposal would provide a tax credit of up to $10,000 for a taxpayer who donates an organ or partial organ, such as a kidney, pancreas, intestine, lung or bone marrow. The credit would apply to surgery-related transportation, lodging and lost wages. The bill only applies to living organ donors.
The bill is being co-sponsored by state Rep. Mary Ann Carson, R-New Fairfield, and Sen. David Cappiello, R-Danbury.
Carson said they got the idea from a constituent who received an organ transplant and thought the state should do more to recognize the sacrifice of the donor.
"She was so grateful of what had been given to her and she wanted to give something back," Carson said. "Folks don't realize the toll it takes on people (who donate)."
New Fairfield resident Jean Bowen had a kidney transplant three years ago, and last year read a news story about a law in Wisconsin that gives tax credits to donors. That's when she contacted Cappiello and Carson about the idea.
"This is one piece of a way to support people who are so generous," Bowen said. "People do have out-of-pocket expenses. I was able to reimburse my donor for expenses, but not everyone can."
Danbury resident Nancy Lavers was her donor.
Bowen said most people who donate have to take a week off from work, and possibly more if they have a physically demanding job.
"People offer to donate a kidney instinctively without thinking about the time and expense," Bowen said. "They are not reimbursed, and are not looking to be reimbursed. The government could just provide this small tax credit."
If the legislature adopts the bill, Connecticut will be the third state to enact such a policy. Wisconsin's tax credit became effective last year, and Georgia's tax credit became effective this year.
"Increasing the number of donors would reduce the waiting lists for transplants each year," Carson said. "Our proposal would provide another incentive for people who are considering organ donation."
Cappiello said this law could help those thinking about donating an organ to make their decision.
"Donating an organ is a highly personal and courageous decision to make, but it can also be financially costly," Cappiello said. "Potential donors are usually faced with taking substantial periods of time away from their jobs, which ultimately prevents them from becoming a donor."
Cappiello said the goal is to ensure anyone who needs a transplant will get a matching organ.
"In return, it is our belief that we will see an increase in the number of organ donations made in Connecticut," Cappiello said.
Cappiello said the tax credit would be available to any Connecticut taxpayer, and it would not matter whether the surgery took place in the state.
The Wisconsin proposal was passed in 2003 and became effective in January 2004. The Georgia legislature followed up passing a similar proposal in 2004. The law there became effective this January. Both states offer a credit of up to $10,000.
Similar tax credit proposals are being considered in Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and South Carolina.
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, a national nonprofit group that promotes organ donations, 25,000 organ donations were done in the United States in 2003 and 7,000 of those organs came from living donors.
Carson said the cost to the state to enact the legislation would be $115,000. She said they are still awaiting a cost estimate from the Office of Legislative Research to determine the potential revenue loss to Connecticut, but doesn't think it would be a large amount.
For more information on this legislation, go to www.cga.ct.gov and look up House Bill 5808.
why not simply give the families the cash up fropnt?
How much for an old piano I never play?
I know someone whose organs I want to donate!
that is right. They should be compensated. That tax credit sounds good, but it really isn't.
i do too, but if you really want to solve the rgan donation "Crises", then you need to do two things: Declare that one's body belongs to one's self and NOT the government, and let the market take over.
"She was so grateful of what had been given to her and she wanted to give something back," Carson said. "Folks don't realize the toll it takes on people (who donate)."
What's wrong with this picture?
I heard that a guy in NYC went out for a night of drinking, and awoke the next morning in a bathtub filled with ice, a kidney missing and a tax deduction notice from the IRS lying on the floor.
Who gives the money?
i'd make it the recipient, certainly NOT the government. this proposal is the camle's nose under the tent where by the government assumes that it alone can compensate donors. Soon you'll have to pay a tax NOT to donate.
what we need is an ammendment that say s that "our bodies are our own". Seems to me that i've heard that tune before, but i'd wager that those who espouse it in that context will never, never accept it under these.
I agree.
This is why the tax code will never be simplified.
One should be able to sell their organs if they want.
Despite the "R" after her name, she's acting like a Democrat.
they stole my kidney and left me in a bathtub full of ice!!!!
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/robbery/kidney.htm
LOL~!
For the vast majority of our citizens, of both parties, government force is now the default position for any problem, real or imagined.
"There ought to be a law". Six words that should be erased form the language.
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