SACRAMENTO – The California Senate on Monday declared April DMV/Donate Life California Partnership Month by unanimously approving a resolution authored by Senator Tom Berryhill, R-Twain Harte, who underwent a successful heart transplant 16 years ago.

SCR18 recognizes the 11-year partnership between Donate Life California and the California Department of Motor Vehicles. The partnership has produced an organ and tissue donor registry of 14 million people – the largest registry of its kind in the world.  

In 2016, more than 900 Californians became organ donors, which contributed to 3,866 life-saving transplants. However, 22,000 Californians are still awaiting another chance at life.

“As someone who was given the gift of life, I know how important the donor program is to families all across the state,” Berryhill said. “This resolution honors the thousands of Californians awaiting a life-saving transplant, as well as those of us who have been blessed with that second chance in life. Everyone should consider giving the gift of life.”   

SCR 18 was co-authored by Senator Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica. It heads to the Assembly next.