BILL NUMBER: SCR 18	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	ADOPTED IN SENATE  MARCH 23, 2009
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 11, 2009
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 12, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Alquist
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Audra Strickland)

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2009

   Relative to Respiratory Syncytial Virus Awareness Month.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 18, Alquist. Respiratory Syncytial Virus Awareness Month.
   This measure would designate the month of March of each year as
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Awareness Month in the State of
California. This measure would also encourage all Californians to
observe the month with appropriate activities and educational
outreach to parents and the medical community, as well as programs to
raise awareness about the causes of, symptoms of, and ways of
preventing Respiratory Syncytial Virus.



   WHEREAS, The number of babies born premature, at less than 37
weeks of gestational age, continues to grow in the United States,
with an increase of 20 percent since 1990 and an increase of 9
percent since 2000; and
   WHEREAS, In June 2005, 12.7 percent of all births were premature,
at less than 37 weeks gestational age. This amounts to more than
525,000 infants; and
   WHEREAS, According to the March of Dimes, in 2004, California
ranked in the top 10 states for preterm births (less than 37
completed weeks of gestational age) and very preterm births (less
than 32 completed weeks of gestational age). In 2005, 548,882
children were born in California and approximately 10 percent, or
56,363 children, were born premature; and
   WHEREAS, The increase in premature birth rates in recent years is
primarily associated with a rise in late preterm births (34 to 36
weeks of gestational age), which has increased 25 percent since 1990
and accounts for 70 percent of all preterm births. Although multiple
births have contributed to this rise, substantial increases in
preterm birth rates, and especially late preterm birth rates, have
occurred because of singleton birth rates since 1990; and
   WHEREAS, Several studies have found that late preterm infants have
greater morbidity and mortality than full-term infants. Late preterm
infants have a mortality rate that is three times greater than
full-term infants, with the highest mortality risk occurring during
the neonatal period; and
   WHEREAS, Late preterm infants have higher costs in every type of
medical service category compared to full-term infants, including
inpatient hospitalizations, well baby physician office visits,
outpatient hospital services, home health care services, and
prescription drug use; and
   WHEREAS, The five leading causes of rehospitalization for all
infants includes Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) bronchiolitis,
bronchiolitis (cause unspecified), pneumonia (cause unspecified),
jaundice, and dehydration. Among these causes, RSV is the most common
cause of viral death in children under five years of age and the
leading cause of hospitalization in infants less than one year of
age; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature designates the month of
March of each year as Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Awareness
Month in the State of California. The Legislature encourages all
Californians to observe the month with appropriate activities and
educational outreach to parents and the medical community, as well as
programs to raise awareness about the causes of, symptoms of, and
ways of preventing RSV; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.