Amended in Assembly May 12, 2016

Amended in Assembly April 12, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 73

Introduced by Assembly Member Baker

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(Coauthors: Assembly Members Achadjian, Alejo, Arambula, Atkins, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brown, Calderon, Campos, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooper, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Holden, Irwin, Kim, Lackey, Levine, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O’Donnell, Olsen, Patterson, Quirk, Rendon, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams, and Wood)

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May 14, 2015

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 73—Relative to Celiac Disease Awareness Month.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 73, as amended, Baker. Celiac Disease Awareness Month.

This measure would recognize May 2016 as Celiac Disease Awareness Month.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that
results in damage to the lining of the small intestine when a person
eats foods with gluten; and

WHEREAS, Gluten is a form of protein found in some grains,
including wheat, rye, and barley, which individuals living with
celiac disease need to avoid; and

WHEREAS, The damage to the intestine makes it hard for the
body to absorb nutrients, especially fat, calcium, iron, and folate;
and

WHEREAS, Celiac disease is estimated to affect one in 100
people worldwide; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 2.5 million Americans who have
celiac disease remain undiagnosed and at risk for long-term health
complications; and

WHEREAS, Common symptoms of celiac disease include severe
abdominal pain, severe skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis,
iron deficiency anemia, musculoskeletal problems, muscle cramps,
seizures, tingling sensation in the legs, and depression; and

WHEREAS, Celiac disease can leave a person susceptible to
additional health problems, including osteoporosis, miscarriage,
infertility, growth problems in children affected by the disease
because they do not absorb enough nutrients, and cancers of the
digestive system; and

WHEREAS, People who have celiac disease may have other
autoimmune diseases, including thyroid disease, type I diabetes,
Crohn’s disease and colitis, and juvenile arthritis; and

WHEREAS, Some people with celiac disease have so much
damage to their intestines that a gluten-free diet will not improve
their condition, and these patients may need to receive nutritional
supplements intravenously; and

WHEREAS, Maintaining a gluten-free diet can be a difficult
change, as gluten is found in some products in which gluten is not
naturally occurring; and

WHEREAS, Gluten is found in most processed foods, but it is
also used in nonedible products such as lipsticks, vitamins, and
medications; and

WHEREAS, Gluten-free food touching the same surface as
gluten-containing food can cause cross-contamination that can be
dangerous for someone with celiac disease by triggering celiac
disease symptoms; and

WHEREAS, Awareness for celiac disease has grown
significantly in recent years; and

WHEREAS, The development of new gluten-free food products
has made it much easier for people with celiac disease to expand
their dietary options; and

WHEREAS, Labeling of gluten-free products makes shopping
easier for people with celiac disease; and

WHEREAS, Gluten-free restaurants, gluten-free menus, and
the education of food handlers regarding celiac disease have given
people living with celiac disease safer options for dining out; and

WHEREAS, Much progress has been made in recent years to
educate people about celiac disease and identify ways to improve
their quality of life; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That May 2016 be recognized as Celiac Disease
Awareness Month; and be it further

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