Albany considers bill to pay live organ-donors' costs; Supporters want to remove economic barriers that they say keep many potential donors from coming forward

A new bill could make New York the first state in the country to directly compensate living organ donors--who typically donate a kidney or a portion of their liver to a transplant patient--for lost wages, child care and other expenses. The Living Donor Support Act, introduced by Democratic Assemblyman Richard Gottfried of Manhattan and Republican Sen. Kemp Hannon of Long Island, chair of the Senate Health Committee, has broad support from lawmakers.