California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent ResolutionNo. 57


Introduced by Assembly Member Achadjian

(Coauthor: Senator Monning)

April 20, 2015


Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 57—Relative to Viral Hepatitis Awareness Day.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 57, as introduced, Achadjian. Viral Hepatitis Awareness Day.

This measure would proclaim May 19, 2015, as Viral Hepatitis Awareness Day in California.

Fiscal committee: no.

P1    1WHEREAS, Liver cancer and liver disease related to hepatitis
2B and C are two of the leading killers in California; and

3WHEREAS, Hepatitis C is the most prevalent bloodborne
4disease in the United States and in California; and

5WHEREAS, Early detection of hepatitis B and C infections
6promotes effective management or treatment of these infections,
7preventing disability, loss of productivity and income, and allowing
8people to live full, satisfying, and productive lives; and

9WHEREAS, An undetected and untreated hepatitis B or C
10infection can lead to disability or death; and

11WHEREAS, The majority of the estimated 750,000 Californians
12with chronic hepatitis C infection do not know they are infected,
13and are therefore at high risk of severe liver disease, liver cancer,
14or liver failure; and

P2    1WHEREAS, The majority of the estimated 350,000 California
2residents with hepatitis B infection do not know they are infected,
3and are therefore at high risk of severe liver disease, liver cancer,
4or liver failure; and

5WHEREAS, Untreated hepatitis B and C infections are the
6leading causes of liver failure requiring liver transplant; and

7WHEREAS, The federal Centers for Disease Control and
8Prevention released updated guidelines calling for baby boomers
9- everyone born between 1945 and 1965 - to receive a one-time
10hepatitis C test, which would save over 100,000 lives; and

11WHEREAS, In 2013, the United States Preventive Services
12Task Force (USPSTF) issued a Grade B rating for screening for
13hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in persons at high risk for
14infection and adults born between 1945 and 1965; and

15WHEREAS, Baby boomers make up 30 percent of California’s
16adult population, and African American baby boomers are twice
17as likely to have hepatitis C as other baby boomers; and

18WHEREAS, In 2009, the USPSTF issued a Grade A rating for
19screening pregnant women for the hepatitis B virus (HBV)
20infection during their first prenatal visit; and

21WHEREAS, In 2014, the USPSTF issued a Grade B rating for
22screening people born in countries where hepatitis B is common,
23United States-born people who were not vaccinated against
24hepatitis B when they were babies and whose parents come from
25countries where hepatitis B is common, and other people at risk
26for hepatitis B; and

27WHEREAS, There is a vaccine for the prevention of hepatitis
28B - the first proven, low-cost vaccination against any form of
29cancer made available to Americans; and

30WHEREAS, Hepatitis B is most prevalent among people of
31Asian and Pacific Islander descent, and one-third of Americans of
32Asian and Pacific Islander descent live in California; and

33WHEREAS, Hepatitis B-related and hepatitis C-related
34hospitalization charges totaled $2.3 billion in 2010 in California,
35mostly paid for by tax-supported public health insurers; and

36WHEREAS, New medications can cure hepatitis C in over 90
37percent of people who are linked to and retained in care and
38treatment; and

39WHEREAS, Hepatitis B can be treated effectively with proper
40medical management and may be curable in the near future; and

P3    1WHEREAS, The Legislature will continue to work to increase
2the affordability of, and access to, care, treatment, and cures for
3hepatitis; and

4WHEREAS, Hepatitis awareness education campaigns and
5accessible screening for hepatitis B and C, along with appropriate
6treatment, can reduce the damage from hepatitis B and C viral
7infection to individuals and to our community, financially, as well
8as physically and emotionally; now, therefore, be it

9Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
10thereof concurring,
That the Legislature hereby proclaims May
1119, 2015, as Viral Hepatitis Awareness Day; and be it further

12Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
13of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.



O

    99