Bill Text: TX HR693 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing March 2015 as Brain Injury Awareness Month in Texas.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Passed) 2015-03-23 - Reported enrolled [HR693 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HR693-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 693 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Traumatic brain injuries are a dangerous reality for | ||
| many Texans, but there have been significant advances toward better | ||
| awareness, understanding, and support over the past several years; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, Approximately 144,000 Texans sustain traumatic | ||
| brain injuries annually, and about 4,000 of those die from their | ||
| injuries; an estimated 500,000 Texans are currently living with a | ||
| disability caused by traumatic brain injury, which remains the | ||
| leading cause of death and disability in persons under 45 and is | ||
| especially common among children and teenagers; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In order to mitigate the societal impact of this | ||
| type of trauma, the 78th Texas Legislature established the Texas | ||
| Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Council and charged it with | ||
| identifying individuals with TBIs, informing state leadership of | ||
| their needs, recommending policies to address those needs, | ||
| encouraging research into causes and prevention, and promoting | ||
| awareness; in the past several years, the TBIAC has accomplished | ||
| these core responsibilities by implementing a myriad of successful | ||
| programs across the state; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The council, with members appointed by the executive | ||
| commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, has | ||
| partnered with various agencies to ensure that individuals with | ||
| TBIs have access to adequate and high quality care; created in 2007, | ||
| the Office of Acquired Brain Injury researched and provided several | ||
| options to fund waivers for affected patients; the OABI and TBIAC | ||
| have collaborated on the development of accredited online training | ||
| courses for public health professionals, caregivers, social | ||
| workers, survivors, law enforcement personnel, and family members | ||
| dealing with TBIs; the OABI and the council also teamed up with the | ||
| Texas Education Agency to create a resource on TBIs and successful | ||
| communication and teaching skills for educators; in addition, the | ||
| OABI works closely with the Texas State Athletic Trainers' | ||
| Association to raise awareness of sports concussions; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A large number of United States service members | ||
| suffer from TBIs, especially those returning from the wars in Iraq | ||
| and Afghanistan, and the TBIAC has worked especially hard to help | ||
| these brave men and women manage their conditions; with the OABI and | ||
| the Department of Veterans Affairs, the council released an | ||
| instructional video in both English and Spanish that offers advice | ||
| for effective communication and reviews available resources for | ||
| veterans with TBIs; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Traumatic brain injuries affect Texans from all | ||
| backgrounds and of all ages, and it is fitting to take this | ||
| opportunity to celebrate the achievements of those who have | ||
| sustained brain injuries and to pay tribute to the many caregivers | ||
| and professionals who support them; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby recognize March 2015 as Brain Injury Awareness | ||
| Month and honor the work of the Texas Traumatic Brain Injury | ||
| Advisory Council; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for the TBIAC as an expression of high regard by the Texas | ||
| House of Representatives. | ||
| Naishtat | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 693 was adopted by the House on March | ||
| 5, 2015, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
