Mon Feb 20 2012
by Marc Kovac
Capital Bureau Chief
Columbus -- The Ohio Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation April 22 that would allow more teens to participate in blood drives coordinated by the American Red Cross and other non-profits.
Senate Bill 57, sponsored by Sen. Bob Gibbs (R-Lakeville), passed on a final vote of 32-0. It heads to the Ohio House, which recently passed its own version of the bill, sponsored by Rep. John Carney (D-Columbus).
Under existing law, anyone 17 years or older is allowed to donate blood without parental consent. The proposed legislation would allow 16-year-olds to give blood, too, provided they have permission from their parents or guardians.
Twenty-four other states already allow 16-year-olds to give blood.
Gibbs, citing statistics from the Red Cross, said upward of 500,000 units are donated through that organization annually, with about 10,000 coming from high school students. The legislation is expected to increase collections by about 10,000 units.
Marc Kovac is the Dix Communications Statehouse Bureau Chief. E-mail him at mkovac@dixcom.com.
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