BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SCR 24
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   June 29, 2009

                             ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES
                                 Ted W. Lieu, Chair
                  SCR 24 (Ashburn) - As Introduced:  March 17, 2009

           SENATE VOTE :   38-0

           SUBJECT  :  Valley Fever Awareness Month.
           
          SUMMARY  :   Proclaims August 2009, as Valley Fever Awareness  
          Month.  Specifically,  this resolution  makes the following  
          legislative findings:   

          1)Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis), a progressive,  
            multisymptom, respiratory disorder, is a debilitating disease  
            that attacks the respiratory system causing infection that can  
            lead to symptoms that resemble a cold, flu, or pneumonia.

          2)Left untreated or mistreated, serious symptoms of valley fever  
            appear including pneumonia and labored breathing; therefore,  
            treatment must be prompt with antifungal drugs or the disease  
            can be devastating and even fatal. 

          3)Valley fever affects primarily people with lowered immune  
            systems, and is caused by inhalation of tiny airborne fungi  
            that live in soil but are released into the air by  
            disturbances such as wind.

          4)In the last 10 years, infection rates in California and  
            Arizona have risen 400 percent; and, in  California, the  
            disease is found in portions of the Sacramento Valley, the San  
            Joaquin Valley, desert regions, and portions of southern  
            California.

          5)There still remains no known cure for the disease; however,  
            researchers believe they are getting closer to finding a  
            vaccine.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   None
             
           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :

           Support 
           








                                                                  SCR 24
                                                                  Page  2

          None on file.
           
            Opposition 
           
          None on file.


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