Department:Motor Vehicles
Category: Customer Service and IT
Idea/Initiative Name: DMV Organ Tissue Registry Program
Objective: Create a mechanism for collecting and transmitting donor designation information to the Donate Life of California Organ and Tissue Donor Registrar.
Description: The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) implemented the Organ Donor and Tissue Registry Program, which offers driver license (DL) and identification card (ID) applicants the opportunity to register as an organ or tissue donor with the California Organ and Tissue Donor Registrar.
All applicants for a DL or ID have the option to consent to becoming an organ and tissue donor registered with the California Organ and Tissue Donor Registrar and/or make a $2.00 donation to support the registry and its activities. The department electronically transmits the designation information to the California Organ and Tissue Donor Registrar. As of May 14, 2008, over 3 million people have registered to be organ and tissue donors.
Traditionally, while signing a donor card and placing the pink door sticker on the DL/ID cards indicated the intent to donate, no formal means of registry occurred. Through the new program, the DMV can help honor donor's wishes.
Results: Customers who register as donors in this program will have an embedded donor indicator placed on their DL/ID cards with technology provided by the DMV. With approximately 8 million driver licenses and identification cards issuing annually, the DMV can provide many Californians the opportunity to become organ donors.