Illinois Lawmakers Look to Increase Living Organ Donors Via Legal Protections

State Capitol – Rep Deb Conroy (D) is backing two bills, along with Sen Julie Morrison (D) that would provide protections for living organ donors. Rep Conroy has a keen insight into the need for such donations. She recently donated one of her kidneys to her ex-husband.

One bill, HB-2487, would keep insurance companies from charging higher insurance rates to those who donate an organ, and would require businesses to pay employees who donate an organ for up to 60 days, while they’re away from work recovering from their donation surgery. SB-67 would give businesses a tax credit of up to 25% of a donors wages or salary, if the business gives at least 30 days of PAID leave when the employee is off following an organ donation.