Austin, TX -- Texas legislators last week unanimously renamed the Texas Donor, Education, Awareness and Registry program (DEAR) the Glenda Dawson Donate Life-Texas Registry to honor the late state representative who received a kidney from her sister.

Senate Bill 1500 by Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, is a follow-up to SB 24 and HB 120 (2005) by Zaffirini and Dawson, which created the state's organ and tissue donor registry.

It will enable the state's organ and tissue donor registry to affiliate with the National Donate Life America alliance and campaign, allowing it to educate and reach more potential donors by using Donate Life America's established brand equity.

"The more Texas increases public awareness and education regarding the importance of organ and tissue donation, the more lives will be saved," Senator Zaffirini said. "The bill would raise organ donor awareness statewide and would provide a fitting tribute to its champion, former Rep. Glenda Dawson, by making her the namesake of the Texas donor registry."

Rep. Dawson, a transplant recipient, died last September.

Information about becoming an organ donor is available via the internet at http://www.shareyourlife.org or http://www.texasdear.org.

SB 1500 has been sent to Governor Rick Perry for his signature. The continued progress of this and all bills authored by Senator Zaffirini can be monitored via the internet at www.zaffirini.senate.state.tx.us or by contacting the Texas Legislative Reference Library at 512/463-1252.

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