A legislator from California has introduced a bill that would offer a $500 tax credit to motivate an increase in blood donations.
Assembly Bill 1709, as introduced by member Freddie Rodriguez, would, for taxable years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2023, allow a credit against an individual’s net state income tax in the amount of $500 if the taxpayer made at least four blood donations.
“I think this is just one way to help get people more motivated, more in-tune about what’s really happening in our world,” Rodriguez said in an ABC10 story.
A member of the California Senate also introduced a bill in February that would offer tax credits to businesses that sponsor blood drives conducted by nonprofit blood banks. SB 1025 already has received bipartisan support in both houses of the California legislature.
The idea is to encourage people to make lifesaving donations that counter California’s and the nation’s shortage of blood, and encourage more organizations to conduct blood drives.
The blood shortage in San Antonio and Bexar County is just as severe. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg recently said in a news conference that the area was under “a blood emergency.”
Dr. Samantha Gomez Ngamsuntikul, Associate Medical Director at South Texas Blood & Tissue, also said, “During the pandemic, we have seen a 60% drop in donors age 16-19 and also a 30% drop in first-time donors.”
This legislative initiative is one of several aimed at addressing challenges to the nation’s blood supply shortage. Other states considering similar tax credits include New Jersey (NJ 5147), Oklahoma (SB 905), and Hawaii (HB 1557).
To help address the blood shortage, everyone who is eligible is invited to schedule a blood donation at SouthTexasBlood.org or call 201-731-5590, or for organizations to host a blood drive.
