Delaware bill gives tax breaks to organ donors in first state

DELAWARE- A new bill signed into law by Governor Carney seeks to help organ donors face fewer financial barriers when making the choice to save a life.

HB301 would give a 10,000 tax break to living organ donors, as well as give tax breaks to businesses that allow donors to take additional paid time off, removing the anxiety about being able to pay for the travel, housing, and recovery associated with organ donations.

“I think it’s the least we can do as a state is to try and give tax incentives to get people to do good things,” said Bill Co-sponsor and organ donor Rep. Peter Schwartzkopf adding “the donor themselves get this break and the businesses get a break on the other end we want to raise awareness, the break is not the reason to do this but its good to know those expense will be taken care off on the other end.”

Kidney Donor and Associate Executive Director at  National Kidney Foundation Nicole Scharf tells 47ABC, after the surgery,  the patient feels better- but the Donor needs to take time and adjust to life with a piece of themselves missing.

“You could be back to work in two weeks if you are superman but for most people, it’s two to 6 weeks so you are looking at lost wages,” she said.

She says across the country, over 100,000 people are waiting for life-saving organs, 92 percent of which are waiting for kidneys.

Schwartzkopf says he hopes with this bill those in recovery and those who employ them can know the legislature has their back.

“It is a personal choice, and a medical choice so we are removing the financial anxiety from it,” he said.