Bill Text: CA ACR277 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Epilepsy Awareness Month.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 57-20-1)

Status: (Passed) 2018-09-07 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 212, Statutes of 2018. [ACR277 Detail]

Download: California-2017-ACR277-Introduced.html

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Concurrent Resolution

No. 277

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Introduced by Assembly Member Medina
(Principal coauthor: Senator Pan)
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Cooley)

August 08, 2018

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Relative to Epilepsy Awareness Month.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

ACR 277, as introduced, Medina. Epilepsy Awareness Month.

This measure would proclaim November 2018 as Epilepsy Awareness Month and call for a recommitment to increasing awareness and understanding of those living with epilepsy.

Digest Key

Fiscal Committee: NO  

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Bill Text

WHEREAS, Epilepsy is a disease characterized by an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures and by the neurobiological, cognitive, psychological, and social consequences of this condition; and

WHEREAS, Epilepsy is a condition of the brain causing seizures. A seizure is a disruption of the electrical communication between neurons. A person is said to have epilepsy if he or she experiences two or more unprovoked seizures separated by at least 24 hours or if he or she experiences one seizure and is at a high risk of having more; and

WHEREAS, About one in 10 people in the United States has had a single, unprovoked seizure or has been diagnosed with epilepsy, 3.4 million people in the United States have epilepsy, and over 65 million people worldwide live with epilepsy; and

WHEREAS, There are 150,000 new cases of epilepsy in the United States each year. However, seizures may occur more frequently in certain age groups, including the very young and older people, in people of certain races, and in certain areas of the world; and

WHEREAS, One in 26 people will develop epilepsy during his or her lifetime, and people with certain conditions may be at greater risk for developing epilepsy; and

WHEREAS, It is important that people understand what a seizure looks like and what to do if they see someone having a seizure. The more familiar people are with epilepsy, the less people living with the condition have to fear discrimination, worry about receiving improper first aid, or keep their epilepsy hidden; and

WHEREAS, Seizures impact people’s lives in many ways, including creating barriers to employment and education and facing a sense of discrimination and isolation from their peers; and

WHEREAS, The Epilepsy Foundation advocates for more attention and money to be dedicated to epilepsy research and the acceleration of development of new therapies to stop seizures; and

WHEREAS, One-third of people living with epilepsy have seizures that cannot be controlled with current treatments and all people living with epilepsy have the risk of a potential “breakthrough” seizure; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims November 2018 as Epilepsy Awareness Month and calls upon all citizens, government agencies, public and private institutions, businesses, and schools to recommit our community to increasing awareness and understanding of those living with epilepsy; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.