BILL NUMBER: ACR 151	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 12, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Wilk
    (   Coauthors:   Assembly Members 
 Achadjian,   Alejo,   Allen,  
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,  Gonzalez,   Gordon,  
Gray,   Grove,   Hagman,   Holden, 
 Jones-Sawyer,   Linder,   Lowenthal, 
 Maienschein,   Mansoor,   Medina,  
Melendez,   Mullin,  Muratsuchi,  
Nazarian,   Nestande,   Olsen,   Pan,
  Patterson,   Perea,   V. Manuel Pérez,
  Quirk,   Quirk-Silva,   Ridley-Thomas,
  Rodriguez,   Salas,   Skinner, 
 Stone,   Ting,   Wagner,   Weber,
  and Yamada   ) 

                        MAY 19, 2014

   Relative to Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) Awareness
Week.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 151, as amended, Wilk. Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)
Awareness Week.
   This measure would declare the week of May 25, 2014, to May 31,
2014, inclusive, as Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) Awareness
Week to honor those who work to make research and resources a
reality for children suffering from DIPG and their families.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, The Legislature recognizes that the quality and character
of life in the communities across the State of California are
reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those
organizations and individuals that are devoted to the welfare of the
community and its citizenry; and
   WHEREAS, In this regard, the Legislature commends the efforts of
the Jack's Angels Foundation and other similar foundations for their
continuing efforts to raise awareness of, and fight against,
malignant brain tumors; and
   WHEREAS, James-William "Jack" Demeter, the namesake of the Jack's
Angels Foundation, lost the fight against Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine
Glioma (DIPG) at the age of three; and
   WHEREAS, DIPG is a malignant brain tumor that affects the brain
stem. Only children are afflicted with DIPG and it is usually
diagnosed between five and nine years of age; and
   WHEREAS, According to Dr. Sabine Meuller of the University of
California at San Francisco, DIPG is one of the worst diagnoses a
patient and his or her family can face. There are essentially no
long-term survivors and median survival is only about 9 months.
Progress has been hampered by the perceived risk of biopsy of these
tumors. To date, no therapy has been shown to be effective and
children with DIPG are often treated on early phase 1 clinical trials
with a trial-and-error approach; and
   WHEREAS, The Jack's Angels Foundation is a nonprofit corporation
that donates all money raised to establish a new DIPG research fund
at the Los Angeles Children's Hospital. The foundation is committed
to promoting the most innovative research and clinical trials to help
shed light on the nature of DIPG and the genetic anomalies that
cause it. In order that there be greater hope for survival, the
foundation also actively researches cures for DIPG through medical
trials and scientific research; and
   WHEREAS, The mission of the Jack's Angels Foundation is also to
support the quality of life for patients diagnosed with DIPG patients
and their families; and
   WHEREAS, The mission of the Jack's Angels Foundation also includes
increasing public awareness and understanding of DIPG, potentially
increasing the protocol for pediatric brain tumor research, and
increasing investment by pharmaceutical companies in research
pertaining to DIPG; and
   WHEREAS, It is the intent of the Legislature to call attention to
organizations, like the Jack's Angels Foundation, that serve to bring
people together for the united purpose of actively pursuing
improvements in their communities; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature pause in its deliberations
to honor those who raise awareness of, and fight against, malignant
brain tumors, including DIPG; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature hereby declares the week of May 25,
2014, to May 31, 2014, inclusive, as Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine
Glioma (DIPG) Awareness Week to honor those who work to make research
and resources a reality for children suffering from DIPG and their
families; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.