Illinois lawmaker proposes employer tax break for organ donors

Posted on March 18, 2019
(Foreground to background) Evan Simms, Megan Craig, State Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield). (Dave Dahl/WJBC)

 

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – For a nine-year-old from Grundy County, Evan Simms has been through a lot.

“I was twenty months old, and I got a transplant from a stranger who donated a kidney just because they wanted to help someone,” said the red-haired, bow-tied Evan. “Luckily, that someone was me.”

“It allows private employers to take a 25 percent credit against withholding taxes due if the private employer grants all the employees a paid leave of absence for at least thirty days” for the purpose of donating an organ or bone marrow, said the sponsor, State Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield). “Bottom line: there is a great need for living donors, especially kidneys.”

The kidney recipient was at the Capitol to testify for a bill which encourages employers to let their employees donate.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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