The Massachusetts Legislature faces controversy over a proposed new program allowing prisoners to sign up for organ or bone marrow donation programs in exchange for reduced sentences. Although presented as a way to increase donations to Black and brown communities, many critics fear the new program would essentially create a system of incarcerated individuals selling their organs to get out of prison early. The bill’s creator is now working to change the proposal’s language in response to the recent outcry.

As The Guardian reported, the new law would allow inmates to reduce their sentences by a range of between 60 and 365 days if they donate either organs or bone marrow.

The bill’s sponsors, Democratic State Reps. Carlos González and Judith Garcia, have argued the legislation would be beneficial for incarcerated people, their families and their communities, especially communities of color. Garcia couched the proposal regarding prisoners’ rights, tweeting that the bill would “restore bodily autonomy to incarcerated folks by providing opportunity to donate organs and bone marrow.” González, meanwhile, argued that the law would “increase the likelihood of Black and Latino family members and friends receiving life-saving treatment,” noting these communities tend to face critical shortages of compatible donors for those needing organ or bone marrow transplants.

Some critics were quick to pounce on the bill. Many viewed the offer of reduced sentences in exchange for organ donation as cruel, inhumane and dehumanizing, comparing it to organ trafficking. Despite the law’s seemingly good intentions, prisoner rights advocates said the proposal fails to acknowledge the power dynamics and potential for coercion in tying sentence length to something as invasive as donating an organ or bone marrow. And several critics pointed out the plan may also be illegal under federal law, which prohibits the sale of organs in exchange for money or other “valuable consideration.”

ABC News reported Thursday that Gonzalez said he was amending the bill’s language in the face of criticism. Telling the news outlet that “it is crucial to respect prisoners’ human dignity and agency by respecting their choice to donate bone marrow or an organ,” Gonzalez has pledged to work with legal professionals and advocates to write a new version of the proposal. The updated bill will likely remove the sentence-reduction incentive, as happened when South Carolina proposed a similar deal but changed it in the face of similar backlash.

The revised version of the law will likely be scrutinized when introduced to the Massachusetts Legislature. Ideally, the new bill will still encourage organ donation within Black and brown communities without exacerbating inequalities and exploitative practices within the criminal justice system.