BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                    ACR 188


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          Date of Hearing:  June 14, 2016


                       ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS


                                 Jacqui Irwin, Chair


          ACR 188  
          (Melendez) - As Introduced May 23, 2016


          SUBJECT:  PTS Awareness Month


          SUMMARY:  States that the Legislature supports United States'  
          current and former servicemembers who are suffering from PTS by  
          bringing awareness of this issue to all Californians and  
          proclaims the month of June 2016 as PTS Awareness Month in the  
          state.


          EXISTING LAW:  Not applicable


          FISCAL EFFECT:  This bill is not keyed fiscal.


          COMMENTS:  


           Analyzed as Proposed to Be Amended


          Proposed Amendments:


           1)Add a co-author.  








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           2)Replace the phrase Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with  
            Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS).  


           3)Replace the term "soldiers" with "current and former  
            service-members".  


           This measure is designed to raise awareness of Post Traumatic  
          Stress (PTS) resulting from military service.  The resolution  
          would declare June as PTS month.  


          According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs  
          (USDVA), Post traumatic stress can occur after someone has  
          experienced a traumatic event such as combat or sexual trauma.   
          PTS symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event, but  
          they may not appear until months or years later. They also may  
          come and go over many years. 





          Further, there are four types of symptoms of PTS:





             1.   Reliving the event
             2.   Bad memories, nightmares and flashbacks, 


             3.   Avoiding situations reminiscent of the event










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             4.   Negative changes in beliefs and feelings


             5.   Feeling keyed up (also called hyperarousal)





          Finally, USDVA explains that people with PTS may also have other  
          problems. These include:





             1.   Feelings of hopelessness, shame, or despair
             2.   Depression or anxiety


             3.   Drinking or drug problems


             4.   Physical symptoms or chronic pain


             5.   Employment problems


             6.   Relationship problems, including divorce





          USDVA reports that the number of Veterans with PTS varies by  
          service era:










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             1.   Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom  
               (OEF): About 11-20 out of every 100 Veterans (or between  
               11-20%) who served in OIF or OEF have PTS in a given year.
             2.   Gulf War (Desert Storm): About 12 out of every 100 Gulf  
               War Veterans (or 12%) have PTS in a given year.


             3.   Vietnam War: About 15 out of every 100 Vietnam Veterans  
               (or 15%) were currently diagnosed with PTS at the time of  
               the most recent study in the late 1980s, the National  
               Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS). It is  
               estimated that about 30 out of every 100 (or 30%) of  
               Vietnam Veterans have had PTS in their lifetime.


          REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:




          Support


          American G.I. Forum of California


          American Legion, Department of California


          AMVETS, Department of California


          California Association of County Veterans Service Officers


          California State Commanders Veterans Council








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          Military Officers Association of America, California Council of  
          Chapters


          Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California


          Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council




          Opposition


          None on File. 




          Analysis Prepared by:John Spangler / V.A. / (916) 319-3550