A new state law in New York will allow close friends to authorize organ, eye or tissue donations on behalf of deceased individuals with no available next of kin.

The legislation, which Gov. Kathy Hochul signed on Monday, was authored by Assemblymember Amy Paulin, a Westchester Democrat. The law's supporters say it aligns New York’s rules around organ donations with most of the rest of the country.

“This legislation is about ensuring that no opportunity to save a life is lost simply because the person who knew the decedent best wasn’t legally recognized,” Paulin said in a statement. “Close friends often serve as caregivers, decision-makers and are the people who know an individual’s values more than anyone else.”

A legislative memorandum states that until now, New York was only one of

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