THE Welsh Assembly has published its a draft Bill for the introduction of an opt-out system of organ donation.
Under the new law, adults who live and die in Wales will be deemed to have given consent to have their organs harvested after death unless they say no.
Next of kin would also be involved in any discussion about donation.
The number of organ donors will increase by about a quarter under a change to the law, the Welsh Assembly estimates.
They add that the money saved by one transplant will be enough to pay for the changes. The law is expected to come into force in 2015.
The Evening Times is campaigning for a similar change in Scotland.
Thousands of people have signed our petition, which will be presented to the Government later this year.
The final Bill will go before the National Assembly for Wales by the end of the year.
Organs will be available for transplant to anyone in the UK on a waiting list, not just patients in Wales.
Evidence shows countries with opt-out systems see an increase of between 25 and 30% in the donation rate.
Last year in Wales 37 people died waiting for an organ and hundreds of others waited in poor health.
Roy J Thomas, of the Kidney Wales Foundation, said: "Wales is looking at progressive change.
"With change we get more lives being saved."
caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk
HOW TO HELP
Sign our petition to lend your support to an 'opt-out' system for organ donation at www.eveningtimes.co.uk
There is now also a printable version of the petition available on our website.
You can also sign up on Twitter and Facebook via http://bit.ly/etoptin.
To join the existing national organ donor register, text 'ETDONATE' to 61611.
Texts are charged at the usual standard network rate (any texts sent in reply are free of charge to the recipient). You can also join the list by calling the NHS Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23. Lines are open 24 hours a day all year round. Calls are charged at your contracted rate for local calls. You can register online by filling out a form on www.organdonationscotland.org/nhs_organ_donor_register.