By Shannon Clark, Executive Director in NKF Serving Colorado, New Mexico, Montana, and Wyoming
Coloradans this weekend had more to celebrate than their amazing mothers (I do hope you all remembered flowers for them)! On May 7th, in one of their last acts this legislative year, the Colorado state Senate joined their state House in passing exciting new legislation to support living organ donation.
HB 1202, the Living Organ Donor Support Act, will provide private employers a voluntary tax credit of 35% of an employee’s salary (up to salaries of $80,000 annually) to cover up to 10 business days of paid leave. As of May 10th, nearly 2,300 Coloradans were on the transplant waitlist, more than 1,725 of those waiting for a kidney. During 2017, more than 120 Coloradans gave the gift of life.
The National Kidney Foundation was pleased to collaborate on this initiative led by the American Transplant Foundation and applauds the Colorado legislature for taking this proactive step to increase living organ donation. The Living Organ Donor Support Act will remove a significant barrier for organ donors who may not step forward if they are afraid to lose their job or income during their recovery period after surgery.
Kidney patients and living organ donors across the country should thank the Colorado legislature for passing this initiative.
Please consider signing up to become an advocate with the National Kidney Foundation so that you can help us achieve policy like this in your state!
The bill is expected to be signed by the Governor later this month.
Update (5.18.18):
If you are interested in learning more about this law and its passage, ATF is hosting a conference call on May 22nd: https://www.americantransplantfoundation.org/programs/legislative-initiatives/
Advocacy in Action 
Great victory