BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
ACR 107 (Eng and Cook)
As Introduced February 13, 2012
Majority vote
VETERANS AFFAIRS 8-0
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|Ayes:|Pan, Atkins, Block, | | |
| |Gorell, Nielsen, V. | | |
| |Manuel Pérez, Williams, | | |
| |Yamada | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Educates the California public about the causes,
symptoms, and treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
and its impact on our United States Armed Forces veterans.
Specifically, this resolution would recognize June 27, 2012, as
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day.
EXISTING LAW : United States Senate Resolution 541, 2010,
designates June 27, 2010, as National Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder Awareness Day. U.S. Senate Resolution 541 urges the
United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of
Defense to continue working to educate service members,
veterans, the families of service members and veterans, and the
public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of
post-traumatic stress disorder. It also respectfully requests
that the Secretary of the Senate transmit a copy of the
resolution to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the
Secretary of Defense.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown. This resolution is keyed non-fiscal by
the Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS : According to the author:
1) The incidence of PTSD in members of the military is
rising because hundreds of thousands of soldiers are
exposed to traumatic life-threatening events.
2) According to the National Institute for Mental Health,
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure
to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical
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harm occurred or was threatened.
3) The federal Department of Veterans Affairs estimates
that as many as 95% of veterans returning from combat in
Iraq and Afghanistan have some form of PTSD.
4) Although the Department of Defense and the Department of
Veterans Affairs have made significant advances in the
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD and the
symptoms of PTSD, many challenges remain.
5) This resolution is intended to educate the public about
the struggles faced by our service men and women returning
home.
In 2005, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs noted
a 30% increase in PTSD claims in recent years. It also
estimated that 830,000 Vietnam War veterans suffered symptoms of
PTSD. A 2011 study from Georgia State University and San Diego
State University found that rates of PTSD diagnosis increased
significantly when troops were stationed in combat zones, had
tours of longer than a year, experienced combat, or were
injured. Military personnel serving in combat zones were 12.1
percentage points more likely to receive a PTSD diagnosis than
their active-duty counterparts in non-combat zones. Those
serving more than 12 months in a combat zone were 14.3
percentage points more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD than
those who served less than one year. Experiencing an enemy
firefight was associated a 18.3 percentage point increase in the
probability of PTSD, while being wounded or injured in combat
was associated a 23.9 percentage point increase in the
likelihood of a PTSD diagnosis.
In California there is an estimated veteran population of
1,972,000, with more expected due to the drawdowns in Iraq and
Afghanistan. The United States currently recognizes June 27th
as National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day, and
this resolution would bring California, which holds 8.7% of the
nation's veterans, into alignment.
Analysis Prepared by : John Spangler / V. A. / (916) 319-3550
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FN: 0003255