BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  ACR 18
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   March 23, 2009

                             ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES
                                 Ted W. Lieu, Chair
                    ACR 18 (Chesbro) - As Amended:  March 10, 2009
           
          SUBJECT  :   Lyme Disease Awareness Month.

           SUMMARY  :   Proclaims the month of May 2009 to be Lyme Disease  
          Awareness Month.  Specifically, this resolution  makes the  
          following legislative findings:  

            1)  Since first being identified in the 1970s in Lyme,  
              Connecticut; Lyme disease has been found in all 50 states of  
              the United States, including 56 counties in California; and  
              its spread has been reported in 50 countries, on six  
              continents and several islands.

            2)  Lyme disease is a bacterial infection primarily  
              transmitted to its host by the bite of a tick; and it is a  
              complex, multisystem illness with symptoms that may include  
              rash, fever, muscle aches, headaches, and fatigue.  

            3)  Lyme disease is an often-misunderstood illness that, if  
              not caught early and properly treated can invade multiple  
              organs of the body, including the brain and nervous system;  
              and patients become increasing disabled over time, suffering  
              chronic pain, neurological impairment and a host of other  
              symptoms.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   None

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   

           Support 
           
          California Lyme Disease Association

           Opposition 
           
          None on file.

           
          Analysis Prepared by  :    Anna McCabe / RLS. / (916) 319-2800