BILL NUMBER: S10666
SPONSOR: WEBER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in
relation to designating the Nature Center at Rockland Lake State Park as
the "Lauren Shields Nature Center"
 
PURPOSE:
(Designates the Nature Center at Rockland Lake State Park as the "Lauren
Shields Nature Center")
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. The parks, recreation and historic preservation law is
amended by adding a new section 13.32 to read as follows: § 13.32
Nature Center to be dedicated to organ donation advocate Lauren Shields.
The Nature Center in Rockland Lake State Park in Valley Cottage, county
of Rockland, shall be dedicated to organ donation advocate Lauren
Shields.
Section 2. The commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preserva-
tion shall provide for the installation and maintenance of adequate
signing of the Nature Center as dedicated pursuant to section one of
this act, and providing information pertaining to organ donation,
provided that such signage shall state "The Nature Center Dedicated to
Lauren Shields". However, to avoid confusion, the dedication called for
pursuant to section one of this act shall be one of ceremonial nature
and the official name of such nature center shall not be changed as a
result of this act.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
From the time she was a child, Lauren Shields faced challenges that
would have overwhelmed most, yet she met every obstacle with strength,
determination, and an undeniable spirit that inspired everyone around
her. At the age of nine, she received the gift of a heart transplant, a
second chance at life that she embraced with gratitude every single day.
Following her heart transplant, she began lobbying for legislative fixes
to New York's lagging organ donation registration numbers. In October of
2012, New York's "Lauren's Law", named for her, was signed into law
while she was just 12 years old. Lauren's Law requires anyone applying
for or renewing a driver's license or non-driver ID card to answer a
question about joining the organ and tissue donor registry on the
Department of Motor Vehicles application. The question, which had been
optional, was often skipped. In the years following Lauren's Law and a
series of updates, these efforts are credited with boosting New York's
organ registry numbers.
In 2020, she received the gift of a kidney transplant from her mother.
Lauren never let her medical journey define her. Her strength, resili-
ence, and positivity left a lasting impact on all who knew her.
Lauren dedicated her life from the age of nine right up to her passing
at the age of twenty-six to spreading awareness about Organ Donation and
registering donors to the National Donate Life Registry. Whether it was
advocating for legislation, working at LiveOnNY, or volunteering her
free time, Lauren was a tireless advocate for her cause. By renaming the
Rockland Lake Nature Center in honor of Lauren Shields, her powerful
story and message will live on and encourage people to register as organ
donors for years to come.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately