Bill Text: NY K00926 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim September 2020, as Dystonia Awareness Month in the State of New York

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2020-06-10 - adopted [K00926 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00926-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 926

BY: M. of A. DeStefano

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        September  2020,  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 Andrew M. Cuomo  to  proclaim  September  2020,  as
Dystonia Awareness Month in the State of New York; 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  Andrew  M.  Cuomo  to proclaim September 2020, 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 Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.