It's a change that could affect the lives of hundreds of thousands of people throughout the United States.

According to the Federal Organ Procurement and Transplant Network, there are currently almost 10,000 New Yorkers on a list of more than 100,000 people nationwide waiting for an organ transplant.

"New York, the enrollment rates have been lower than really any other state,” said Rob Kochik, executive director for the Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network. “We think a lot of it has to do with because it was harder to do. Many of the other states already had registries where you could enroll online."

Now, that’s a thing of the past. On Monday, the state launched its new online organ donor registry. It's a process that only takes a few minutes, and could save one’s family a tough decision later on in life.

But that's not all New York has done to increase organ donation. A temporary law has now become permanent, requiring driving license applicants to select whether or not they want to be an organ donor.

A similar law that took affect earlier this year also prompts 16 and 17-year-old learners permit applicants to consent to organ donation. All of this gives hope to the long list of people waiting for the gift of life.