STATE REPRESENTATIVE
STEVE WIECKERT
P.O. Box 8953
Madison, WI 53708-8953
(608) 266-3070
TH
57 ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
Madison: (608) 266-3070
Madison Toll-Free: (888) 534-0057
Appleton: (920) 731-3000
National Legislative Association Endorses Wisconsin’s
Landmark Organ Donation Law
Wieckert’s Cody’s Law Initiative approved as model legislation by ALEC
For Immediate Release
January 26, 2006
MADISON – The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) this week has officially approved Wisconsin’s Cody’s Law Organ Donation bill as model legislation, encouraging it to be considered by other states throughout the nation. ALEC is one of the largest associations of state legislators in the country. It recognized the importance of promoting organ donation, noting that 6,000 people pass away each year in the United States because an organ transplant was not available. This law, which Wieckert authored, is named after Cody Monroe, a 10 year old boy from Menasha, who received a kidney transplant. The law allows for a tax deduction for expenses of up to $10,000 for travel, lodging, and lost wages incurred in the process of donating an organ. The first year the legislation was in effect in Wisconsin there was a dramatic 20 percent increase in organ donation. Wieckert received the ALEC call at his capitol office in Madison Tuesday afternoon. In the office at the same time was the Monroe family, including Cody, who were visiting the capitol. They joined the phone call and were delighted that Cody’s Law has received such national recognition and approval. Since the endorsement by ALEC, Rep. Dennis Keene, a majority party member from the state of Kentucky has called Wieckert’s office expressing an interest in introducing it in Kentucky. —END—