New York Assembly Bill A05122

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/12/25
• Refer: 2/12/25
• Report Pass: 6/16/25
• Refer: 6/16/25

Caption

Allows for individuals to consent to receive information from the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program and the national marrow donor program at the time of application for or renewal of a driver's license or non-driver identification card; directs the commissioner of motor vehicles to establish a process by which the department of motor vehicles shall refer driver's license and non-driver identification card applicants who consent to having their information shared with the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program and the national marrow donor program for the purposes of receiving information from such programs about enrolling as a potential donor.

Summary

This bill would add a new opt-in opportunity on New York driver’s license and non-driver ID applications, and on renewals, allowing applicants to consent to have limited personal information shared with the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program or the National Marrow Donor Program. The purpose of that consent is not to enroll the applicant automatically, but to let the registry operator contact them with information about joining the national registry as a potential volunteer bone marrow or blood cell donor. The bill specifies that the information shared would be limited to the applicant’s first and last name, date of birth, email address, and physical address. It also directs the Department of Motor Vehicles to create a referral process for consenting applicants and to add a public website link to information about the registry operator. The act would take effect on January 1, 2028, with immediate authorization for any necessary rulemaking before that date.

Impact

The bill amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law, primarily sections 490, 502, and 508, to create a new DMV-based donor outreach mechanism tied to driver’s license and non-driver identification card transactions. It expands the application process to include a consent-based sharing option for marrow and blood cell donor registry outreach, while leaving existing organ and tissue donor registry provisions in place. The measure would require DMV administrative changes, including application form updates, a referral process, and website modifications, but it does not itself change eligibility rules for donation or registry enrollment.

Sentiment

The available voting history shows strong support and no recorded opposition: the Assembly Ways and Means Committee voted 32-0 in favor, and the Assembly Rules Committee voted 29-0 in favor. That suggests the bill was viewed positively and as a low-conflict public health measure. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded debate to indicate broader disagreement or concern.

Contention

There is little visible contention in the available record. The main policy issue is privacy and consent, since the bill authorizes sharing limited personal information with an outside registry operator, but the bill addresses that by making the process opt-in and restricting the data elements that may be shared. Any practical concerns would likely center on DMV implementation, data handling, and public awareness rather than on the underlying goal of expanding donor recruitment.