32.1-297.1 - The Virginia Transplant Council.
§ 32.1-297.1. The Virginia Transplant Council.
A. The Virginia Transplant Council (hereinafter referred to as the Council)is hereby established to fulfill the following duties:
1. To create, compile, maintain, and modify as necessary the Virginia DonorRegistry established in § 32.1-292.2 in accordance with the regulations ofthe Board of Health and the administration of the Department of Health;
2. To conduct public education and information services relating to organ,tissue, and eye donation in the Commonwealth;
3. To coordinate organ, tissue, and eye donation activities in theCommonwealth;
4. To provide a forum for discussion among its members of any issues of whichit may be apprised that could impact the effectiveness of its activities andthe relationship between the public and its members; and
5. To advise the Board and Department of Health concerning organ, tissue, andeye donation activities, procurement, and transplantation efforts in Virginia.
The Council shall establish such bylaws as may be necessary for itsoperation, consistent with state and federal law.
B. The membership of the Council shall consist of the followingorganizations, each of whom shall have one vote: INOVA Fairfax Hospital,Henrico Doctors' Hospital, LifeNet Health, Lion's Medical Eye Bank andResearch Center of Eastern Virginia, Mountain Regional Donor Services, OldDominion Eye Foundation, Inc., Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Universityof Virginia Health System, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System,Washington Regional Transplant Community, and any successor organizationthereof which remains directly involved in activities related to organ,tissue, or eye donation, procurement, or transplantation in Virginia, and onerepresentative of donor families and one representative of transplantrecipients. The Council shall elect, from among its membership, such officersas its bylaws require to serve for the terms established in such bylaws.
The Council shall also elect the representatives of donor families andtransplant recipients who shall serve for terms established in the bylaws.
C. In order to provide flexibility and coordination and to preventduplication of efforts, the Council may agree to extend nonvoting, associatemembership on the Council to representatives of other organizations,agencies, or experts, public or private, who (i) are directly involved in or(ii) provide education or information on organ, tissue, or eye donation,procurement, or transplantation. Such membership shall (a) be extended to theVirginia Departments of Education, Health Professions, and Motor Vehicles,and the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association; (b) may include atleast one representative of the faith community and one representative oflocal public schools; and (c) may be extended to other organizations,agencies, or experts as the Council deems appropriate.
D. In addition to the duties assigned in subsection A, the Council shall (i)inform the Board regarding the Council's activities; (ii) conduct andcoordinate professional education and informational activities as they relateto organ, tissue, and eye donation, procurement, and transplantation efforts;and (iii) as appropriate, may conduct its activities in coordination withother organizations whose goals are related to organ, tissue, or eyedonation, procurement, or transplantation. To achieve its purposesefficiently and effectively, the Council may conduct its activities inpartnership with its member organizations or may contract for services withappropriate parties.
E. The State Board of Health shall be designated the budgetary administratorof the Council and shall receive such funds as may be provided by the GeneralAssembly in the appropriation act for the operation and administration of theCouncil. The Board, in consultation with the Commissioner, shall oversee theactivities and programs of the Council and shall require the fiscal andsubstantive reports of the Council to be submitted on or before June 30 ofeach year.
F. To enable the Council to further its purposes, the Board may, on behalf ofthe Council, apply for, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations frompublic or private sources. There is hereby created in the state treasury aspecial nonreverting fund to be known as the Virginia Donor Registry andPublic Awareness Fund (the Fund) which shall be administered by the Board, inconsultation with the Commissioner. The Fund shall be established on thebooks of the Comptroller as a revolving fund and shall consist of such gifts,grants, or donations as may be received pursuant to this subsection and anymoneys appropriated by the General Assembly to support the Council'seducation and information programs. Moneys remaining in the Fund at the endof each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain inthe Fund. Interest earned on such funds shall remain in the Fund and becredited to it.
G. In addition to such other reports as may be required by the Commissioneror the Board, on or before September 30 of each year, the Council shallsubmit a report on its activities, programs, and funding in the previousfiscal year to the Board.
(1985, c. 412; 1990, c. 336; 1991, c. 37; 1997, c. 799; 2002, c. 467; 2006,c. 166; 2009, c. 834.)