Local-option law extends paid leave for organ donors

On Dec. 7, the city of Melrose joined Boston and Salem as the only communities in the state thus far to adopt a local-option statute to increase the paid leave for organ donors.

In order to encourage the donation of live organs, a state law enacted in 2005 increased the amount of paid organ donor leave for state employees from five days to 30 per calendar year. The law could be adopted by cities and town at local option.

The law applies to leave taken by an employee to donate a live organ to another individual, such as a kidney, liver, pancreas, lung, or intestine. The donor’s position, creditable service, pay and health benefits are all protected while on leave.

“It’s a benefit that’s a worthy investment,” said Melrose Mayor Robert Dolan. “We ask our employees to save lives, to run into burning buildings, to educate our children. If they need this for their own families, we have to be with them.”

The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network reports that recipients of live organs have a much better success rate than those who receive an organ from a cadaver. Kidneys, the most popular of all transplanted organs, last twice as long when received from a live donor.

The fiscal 2012 state budget includes a provision for an income tax deduction of up to $10,000 to cover travel expenses, lodging and lost wages incurred by donating an organ.

Additional information and the text of the statute can be found at www.mass.gov/anf/docs/hrd/policies/files/organ-donor-memo.doc.