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SALT LAKE CITY — Thanks to a new law, 16-year-old Utahns are now able to donate blood with the written consent of their parents and guardians.
The change comes as the result of the HB64, the Human Blood Procurement and Use Act, which was passed by the Utah Legislature in February. Prior to HB64, the minimum age for blood donations with parental consent was 17. Utah is one of 41 U.S. states to set 16 as the minimum donation age and it is estimated that high school age donors in the state will increase by 10 to 20 percent.
Rep. Stephen G. Handy, R-Layton, worked with the American Red Cross Blood Services, ARUP Blood Services and MountainStar Blood Services to change the Utah blood donation law, which went into effect May 10.
