Existing law, the Michelle Maykin Memorial Donation Protection Act, requires an employer to grant an employee an unpaid leave of absence, as specified, for the purpose of organ donation.

Existing law establishes the State Department of Health Care Services within the California Health and Human Services Agency. Existing law sets forth the department’s powers and duties relating to, among other things, public health, licensing and certification of certain health facilities, and the state Medi-Cal program.

This bill, the Living Organ Donor Reimbursement Act, would establish the Living Organ Donor Reimbursement Program in the State Department of Health Care Services to reduce financial barriers for living organ donors. The bill would authorize living organ donors, as defined, to apply to the department for reimbursement of qualified donation expenses, as defined, that were not, or will not, otherwise be reimbursed, including travel and lodging expenses, lost wages, child care costs, and medication costs. copayments and deductibles for prescription and over-the-counter medications needed as a result of the donation. The bill would limit the total reimbursement costs awarded to each living organ donor to $10,000 per organ donation. The bill would create the Living Organ Donor Reimbursement Fund within the State Treasury. The bill would authorize the Controller to accept donations to the fund from private entities, and would continuously appropriate these moneys for purposes of the program. The bill would require the Controller to allocate other moneys in the fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of the program. The bill would require the department to report specified information to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2026, relating to the implementation of the program. The bill would repeal the provisions of the bill on January 1, 2027.

This bill would also make findings and declarations related to a gift of public funds.