Governor Signs Law Allowing HIV-Positive Organ Donations
Thu. July 15, 2004 12:00 AM
Springfield, IL -
The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) applauds Governor Rod Blagojevich and the state legislature for making Illinois the first state in the nation to expand transplant options for HIV-positive people.
Today the governor signed into law legislation to allow HIV-positive people to donate organs to HIV-positive transplant recipients. Openly HIV-positive State Representative Larry McKeon (D-Chicago) sponsored the bill and championed its passage in the legislature. The Illinois House passed the bill 95-22 on March 2, and the state Senate approved it 55-2 on May 2.
“Enactment of this legislation will go a long way toward helping the growing number of people with HIV/AIDS who will face organ failure and need an organ transplant,” said David Munar, AFC associate director. “Hepatitis-related liver failure is increasingly a problem for people with HIV. Expanding transplant options for them will mean the difference between life and death for these individuals.”
Although praising today’s action, AIDS advocates remain concerned about uncertain state funding for vital AIDS programs as legislative leaders and the governor remain at odds over the state budget for the fiscal year that began July 1.
In February, Gov. Blagojevich proposed a $3.1 million increase for the Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), which helps uninsured and underinsured people with HIV/AIDS receive their AIDS-related medications. He also proposed a $1 million increase for HIV prevention services in communities of color. AFC and other Illinois AIDS advocates have urged lawmakers to adopt the governor’s AIDS-related budget requests in order to help slow the spread of HIV/AIDS in Illinois.
Illinois has reported more than 30,000 AIDS cases since the epidemic began in 1981. An estimated 1,600 Illinoisans become HIV-infected each year, and more than 35,000 Illinoisans are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS. Mirroring national trends, the Illinois AIDS epidemic continues to disproportionately affect African Americans and Latinos, who account for just 27% of the state's population, but who make up 70% of recent AIDS cases.
Established in 1985 to provide central leadership in the fight against the epidemic, AFC promotes sound HIV/AIDS public policy, funds HIV/AIDS prevention and care projects, and through its Service Providers Council, helps to coordinate the delivery of essential HIV/AIDS services.
Today the governor signed into law legislation to allow HIV-positive people to donate organs to HIV-positive transplant recipients. Openly HIV-positive State Representative Larry McKeon (D-Chicago) sponsored the bill and championed its passage in the legislature. The Illinois House passed the bill 95-22 on March 2, and the state Senate approved it 55-2 on May 2.
“Enactment of this legislation will go a long way toward helping the growing number of people with HIV/AIDS who will face organ failure and need an organ transplant,” said David Munar, AFC associate director. “Hepatitis-related liver failure is increasingly a problem for people with HIV. Expanding transplant options for them will mean the difference between life and death for these individuals.”
Although praising today’s action, AIDS advocates remain concerned about uncertain state funding for vital AIDS programs as legislative leaders and the governor remain at odds over the state budget for the fiscal year that began July 1.
In February, Gov. Blagojevich proposed a $3.1 million increase for the Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), which helps uninsured and underinsured people with HIV/AIDS receive their AIDS-related medications. He also proposed a $1 million increase for HIV prevention services in communities of color. AFC and other Illinois AIDS advocates have urged lawmakers to adopt the governor’s AIDS-related budget requests in order to help slow the spread of HIV/AIDS in Illinois.
Illinois has reported more than 30,000 AIDS cases since the epidemic began in 1981. An estimated 1,600 Illinoisans become HIV-infected each year, and more than 35,000 Illinoisans are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS. Mirroring national trends, the Illinois AIDS epidemic continues to disproportionately affect African Americans and Latinos, who account for just 27% of the state's population, but who make up 70% of recent AIDS cases.
Established in 1985 to provide central leadership in the fight against the epidemic, AFC promotes sound HIV/AIDS public policy, funds HIV/AIDS prevention and care projects, and through its Service Providers Council, helps to coordinate the delivery of essential HIV/AIDS services.