BILL NUMBER: ACR 64	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Santiago

                        MAY 5, 2015

   Relative to Asthma Awareness Month.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 64, as introduced, Santiago. Asthma Awareness Month.
   This measure would designate the month of May 2015 as Asthma
Awareness Month in order to increase awareness and understanding
about asthma and educate those with the disease on the treatments
available and the methods of preventing attacks.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, Approximately five million Californians have been
diagnosed with asthma at some point in their lives, and almost three
million currently have asthma; and
   WHEREAS, Asthma is responsible for approximately 400 deaths,
35,000 hospital discharges, and 180,000 emergency department visits
annually in California; and
   WHEREAS, Lifetime and current asthma prevalence is highest among
children 5 to 17 years of age and about 30 percent higher than among
adults; and
   WHEREAS, Asthma prevalence is higher among African Americans,
American Indians/Alaska Natives, Puerto Ricans, European Hispanics,
Pacific Islanders, and Filipinos; and
   WHEREAS, Although people of all incomes have similar asthma
prevalence, people with lower incomes have more poorly controlled
asthma and higher rates of emergency department visits and
hospitalizations; and
   WHEREAS, Asthma results in an estimated 11.8 million days of work
or usual activities missed per year among adults and 1.2 million days
of school or day care missed per year among children; and
   WHEREAS, An estimated 19.4 percent of adults and 4.7 percent of
children with current asthma were uninsured at some point in the past
year; and
   WHEREAS, Total charges for asthma hospitalizations in 2010 were
over $1 billion, and intervention to prevent repeat hospitalizations
could have saved $156 million in these medical costs; and
   WHEREAS, It is important that every person with asthma be
diagnosed, receive appropriate treatment, learn how to manage his or
her asthma, and reduce exposure to environmental factors that make
his or her asthma worse; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby designates the month
of May 2015 as Asthma Awareness Month in order to increase awareness
and understanding about asthma and educate those with the disease on
the treatments available and the methods of preventing attacks; and
be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.