Bill Text: NY J00301 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim September 2023, as Dystonia Awareness Month in the State of New York

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 8-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-01-31 - ADOPTED [J00301 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J00301-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 301

BY: Senator MURRAY

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        September 2023, as Dystonia Awareness Month  in  the
        State of New York

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  custom  of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months that are set aside  to  increase  awareness  of  serious
illnesses that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
memorialize  Governor  Kathy  Hochul  to  proclaim  September  2023,  as
Dystonia Awareness Month in the State of New York, in  conjunction  with
the observance of National Dystonia Awareness Month; and

  WHEREAS,  Dystonia  is a disorder that causes muscles in the body to
contract and spasm involuntarily; individuals affected by this  disorder
cannot control or predict the movement of their bodies; and

  WHEREAS,  Dystonia  is  characterized  by persistent or intermittent
muscle  contractions  causing  abnormal,  often  repetitive,  movements,
postures, or both; the movements are usually patterned and twisting, and
may resemble a tremor; and

  WHEREAS,  This  disorder is often initiated or worsened by voluntary
movements,  and  symptoms  may   "overflow"   into   adjacent   muscles;
furthermore,  dystonia  is  classified  by  clinical characteristics and
cause,  including  changes  or  damage  to  the   nervous   system   and
inheritance;  doctors  use  these classifications to guide diagnosis and
treatment; and

  WHEREAS, Symptoms of dystonia  are  usually  chronic  but  may  also
appear  only during "attacks" or episodes, in which case the dystonia is
termed  paroxysmal;  sometimes  symptoms  occur  only   during   certain
movements such as walking, speaking or playing a musical instrument; and

  WHEREAS,  These symptoms may also affect a specific part of the body
or many parts simultaneously, and may also be painful; and

  WHEREAS, Although the cause of dystonia is  not  known,  researchers
believe  that  dystonia  results from an abnormality in or damage to the
basal ganglia or other brain regions that control movement; there may be
abnormalities in the brain's ability to process neurotransmitters  which
help  cells in the brain communicate with each other; there many also be
abnormalities in the way the brain processes information  and  generates
commands to move; and

  WHEREAS,  The  third  most common movement disorder following tremor
and Parkinson's disease, dystonia affects approximately  300,000  people
in  North  America;  this disorder does not discriminate, affecting men,
women and children of all ages and backgrounds; and

  WHEREAS, Dystonia may be  inherited  or  result  from  other  health
conditions such as stroke, physical trauma, other diseases, or as a side

effect  of  certain medications; although there is no cure for dystonia,
treatments are available including  oral  medications,  botulinum  toxin
injections, and several types of surgery; and

  WHEREAS,  It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at
the local, State and national levels; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  Governor  Kathy  Hochul  to  proclaim  September  2023,  as
Dystonia Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.