§16-21-1. Donations by seventeen year old minors without parental permission.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person seventeen years of age or older may donate blood without the permission or authorization of a parent or guardian and any person sixteen years of age may donate blood with the permission or authorization of a parent or legal guardian: Provided, That a parent or guardian may not be liable for any medical expense which may occur as a result of a minor donating blood under the provisions of this section: Provided, however, That nothing herein may be construed as permitting a minor of age seventeen or older, or a minor of age sixteen, to give blood for compensation in any form.

§16-21-2. Demetry Walker bone marrow and peripheral blood stem donation awareness program.

(a) The Bureau for Public Health shall prepare an online brochure for display on its website. The information shall be derived from the National Marrow Donor Program, which may be downloaded, and utilized by the commissioner for the purposes of §16-21-2(c), and shall be designed to inform patients of the option to become a bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell donor by registering with the National Marrow Donor Program and to answer common questions about bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell donations.

(b) The brochure shall describe:

(1) The health benefits to the community from making a bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell donation through the National Marrow Donor Program;

(2) How to register with the National Marrow Donor Program;

(3) The procedures for making a bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell donation, including notice that there is no charge to the donor or the donor’s family for making the donation;

(4) The circumstances and procedures by which a patient may receive a transfusion of the patient’s previously donated blood; and

(5) Any other aspects of bone marrow or National Marrow Donor Program that the bureau deems appropriate.

(c) The bureau shall promote awareness among health care practitioners and the general public about the option to become a bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell donor. In doing so, the bureau shall consult with the National Marrow Donor Program, and other organizations that are seeking to increase bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell donation among various ethnic groups within the state in need of these donations.