Bill Text: NY K00572 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim November 2019, as Epilepsy Awareness Month in the State of New York

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-14 - adopted [K00572 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00572-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 572

BY: M. of A. Jaffee

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        November  2019,  as  Epilepsy Awareness Month in the
        State of New York

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of  this  Legislative  Body  to  recognize
official  months  dedicated  to  raising awareness of serious conditions
impacting 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 Andrew M.  Cuomo  to  proclaim  November  2019,  as
Epilepsy  Awareness  Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with
the observance of National Epilepsy Awareness Month; and

  WHEREAS,  Epilepsy  is  a  neurological  disorder  characterized  by
seizures  that  consist  of sudden and synchronized bursts of electrical
energy that disrupt the brain's  normal  electrical  pattern;  it  is  a
spectrum  condition  with a wide range of seizure types and control that
varies from person to person; and

  WHEREAS,  These  seizures  may  impact  consciousness,  movement  or
sensation, and create long-term effects on the lifestyles of individuals
with epilepsy; and

  WHEREAS,  Approximately  one-third  of  epilepsy  patients live with
uncontrolled seizures due to a lack  of  suitable  clinically  available
treatment; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Centers  for Disease Control and Prevention estimates
that epilepsy impacts roughly  3.4  million  Americans  and  65  million
people worldwide; 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy and approximately
50,000 people will die from an epilepsy-related cause; and

  WHEREAS,  Epilepsy  affects  more  people  than  multiple sclerosis,
cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy  and  Parkinson's  combined;  in  the
United  States,  200,000  new cases of epilepsy are diagnosed each year;
and

  WHEREAS, While anyone can develop epilepsy at any age,  some  common
risk  factors  include  babies  who are born small for their age or with
abnormal areas in the brain, babies who have seizures in the first month
of their life, and people with serious brain injury or lack of oxygen to
the brain, brain tumors, infections of the brain, cerebral palsy, family
history of seizures, Alzheimer's disease (late in the  illness),  Autism
spectrum  disorder,  use  of  cocaine,  or  strokes  resulting  from the
blockage of arteries; and

  WHEREAS, In the United States, Epilepsy affects  more  than  300,000
children  under  the  age  of 15, more than 90,000 of whom have seizures
that cannot be adequately treated; and

  WHEREAS, More  than  570,000  adults  age  65  and  older  have  the
condition,  as the number of epilepsy cases in the elderly is increasing
with the baby boom generation reaching retirement age; and

  WHEREAS, It costs the United States approximately $15.5 billion each
year in caring for and treating epilepsy; and

  WHEREAS,  While medications and other treatments help many people of
all ages who live with epilepsy, more than a million people continue  to
have  seizures  that  can  severely  limit  their  school  achievements,
employment prospects and participation in all of life's experiences; and

  WHEREAS, Even with the roughly 150,000 new cases of epilepsy in  the
United  States  each  year,  epilepsy  continues  to  be  one  of  least
understood major chronic medical conditions; thus, it is the hope that a
month of awareness in New York State and beyond will  make  for  greater
public  awareness  and  increase  the  activity  at the local, state and
national level; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  Governor  Andrew  M.  Cuomo  to  proclaim November 2019, as
Epilepsy Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That copies of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to  The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York; and the Epilepsy Foundation.