Senator Darling Proposes Plan to Allow Six Weeks of Unpaid Leave to Workers Donating Organs

Senator Alberta Darling proposed legislation that would require a business of a certain size to provide up to six weeks of unpaid leave to workers who elect to be a bone marrow or organ donor.

Darling’s husband died in 2015 awaiting an organ transplant.

“My husband was on the organ donation waiting list when he passed away, so I know firsthand what it’s like to wait and hope,” Darling said. “By removing barriers to organ donation, more families won’t have to wait, hope will come and their loved one will get a second chance.”

She was joined by a girl who needed a kidney transplant when she was just nine years old.

Claire Bevac was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease when she was born, and was lucky enough to receive a kidney from a family friend who happened to be a perfect match.

Her family believes this bill could save more lives.

"It’s amazing, I'm so glad that they're trying to do this, because without it, there wouldn't be as many donors, not many people would get to survive this,” Bevac said.

Lawmakers hope this bipartisan bill will encourage more donors to step up.

As of last week, 27 children at the hospital were on an organ donor waiting list.