BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
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188 (Melendez)
As Amended June 16, 2016
Majority Vote
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|Committee |Votes|Ayes |Noes |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Veterans |8-0 |Irwin, Chávez, | |
|Affairs | |Achadjian, Alejo, | |
| | |Brown, Daly, Frazier, | |
| | |Salas | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY: States that the Legislature supports United States'
current and former servicemembers who are suffering from Post
Traumatic Stress (PTS) by bringing awareness of this issue to
all Californians and proclaims the month of June 2016 as PTS
Awareness Month in the state.
FISCAL EFFECT: This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the Legislative
Counsel..
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COMMENTS:
This measure is designed to raise awareness of PTS resulting
from military service. The resolution would declare June as PTS
month.
According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
(USDVA), PTS 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
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
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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:
1)Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF):
About 11 to 20 out of every 100 Veterans (or between 11% to
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.
Analysis Prepared by:
John Spangler / V.A. / (916) 319-3550 FN:
0003472
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