BILL NUMBER: ACR 138	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER  59
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JUNE 10, 2014
	ADOPTED IN SENATE  JUNE 5, 2014
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 19, 2014
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 19, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Achadjian
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins,
Bigelow, Bloom, Bocanegra, Bonilla, Bonta, Bradford, Brown, Buchanan,
Ian Calderon, Campos, Chau, Chávez, Chesbro, Conway, Cooley,
Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dickinson, Donnelly, Eggman, Fong, Fox,
Frazier, Beth Gaines, Garcia, Gatto, Gomez, Gordon, Gorell, Gray,
Grove, Hagman, Harkey, Holden, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Levine, Linder,
Logue, Lowenthal, Maienschein, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Muratsuchi,
Olsen, Pan, Patterson, Perea, John A. Pérez, V. Manuel Pérez, Quirk,
Quirk-Silva, Rendon, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Skinner, Stone,
Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wieckowski, Wilk, Williams, and
Yamada)
   (Coauthor: Senator Monning)

                        APRIL 21, 2014

   Relative to Viral Hepatitis Awareness Day.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 138, Achadjian. Viral Hepatitis Awareness Day.
   This measure would proclaim May 19, 2014, as Viral Hepatitis
Awareness Day in California.



   WHEREAS, Liver cancer and liver disease related to hepatitis B and
C are two of the leading killers in California; and
   WHEREAS, Hepatitis C is the most prevalent bloodborne disease in
the United States and in California; and
   WHEREAS, Early detection of hepatitis B or C infection promotes
effective management or treatment of these infections, preventing
disability, loss of productivity and income, and allowing people to
live full, satisfying, and productive lives; and
   WHEREAS, Undetected and untreated hepatitis B or C infection can
lead to disability or death; and
   WHEREAS, The majority of the estimated 750,000 Californians with
chronic hepatitis C infection do not know they are infected, and are
therefore at high risk of severe liver disease, liver cancer, or
liver failure; and
   WHEREAS, The majority of the estimated 350,000 California
residents with hepatitis B infection do not know they are infected,
and are therefore at high risk of severe liver disease, liver cancer,
or liver failure; and
   WHEREAS, Untreated hepatitis B and C are the leading causes of
liver failure requiring liver transplant; and
   WHEREAS, The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
released updated guidelines calling for everyone born between 1945
and 1965 to receive a one-time hepatitis C test, which would save
over 100,000 lives; and
   WHEREAS, In 2013, the United States Preventive Services Task Force
(USPSTF) issued a Grade B rating for screening for hepatitis C virus
(HCV) infection in persons at high risk for infection and adults
born between 1945 and 1965; and
   WHEREAS, In 2009, the USPSTF issued a Grade A rating for screening
pregnant women for the hepatitis B virus (HBV) during their first
prenatal visit; and
   WHEREAS, There is a vaccine for the prevention of hepatitis B, the
first proven, low-cost vaccination against any form of cancer made
available to Americans; and
   WHEREAS, Hepatitis B- and hepatitis C-related hospitalization
charges totaled $2.3 billion in 2010 in California, mostly paid for
by tax-supported public health insurers; and
   WHEREAS, Hepatitis awareness education campaigns and accessible
screening for hepatitis B and C, along with appropriate treatment,
can reduce the damage from hepatitis B and C viral infection to
individuals and to our community, financially, as well as physically
and emotionally; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California
hereby proclaims May 19, 2014, as Viral Hepatitis Awareness Day; and
be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.