BILL ANALYSIS
SJR 23
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SJR 23 (Simitian)
As Amended June 15, 2010
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :32-0
HEALTH 19-0
--------------------------------
|Ayes:|Monning, Fletcher, |
| |Ammiano, Carter, Conway, |
| |De La Torre, De Leon, |
| |Eng, Gaines, Hayashi, |
| |Hernandez, Jones, Bonnie |
| |Lowenthal, Nava, |
| |V. Manuel Perez, Salas, |
| |Smyth, Audra Strickland, |
| |Gilmore |
| | |
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SUMMARY : Urges the President and Congress to support research
for mitochondrial disease and makes various findings and
declarations relating to mitochondrial disease.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the
United States Department of Health and Human Services to
conduct and support medical research.
2)Establishes the state Department of Public Health to, among
other things, research various public health problems, collect
and manage relevant health data, and award grants.
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS : According to the author, this resolution is intended
to urge the President and Congress to significantly expand
support for mitochondrial research and improve public
understanding of mitochondrial dysfunction by complementing
efforts at the federal level to draw attention to mitochondrial
disease research and treatment.
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Mitochondria are specialized compartments present in every cell
of the body, except red blood cells, that are responsible for
creating most of the energy needed by the body to sustain life
and support growth. According to information from the United
Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, mitochondrial disease results
from failures of the mitochondria to generate energy within the
cell. If this process is repeated throughout the body, whole
systems begin to fail, and the life of the person in whom this
is happening is severely compromised. Diseases of the
mitochondria cause the most damage to cells of the brain, heart,
liver, skeletal muscles, kidney and the endocrine and
respiratory systems. Depending on which cells are affected,
symptoms may include loss of motor control, muscle weakness and
pain, gastro-intestinal disorders and swallowing difficulties,
poor growth, cardiac disease, liver disease, diabetes,
respiratory complications, seizures, visual or hearing problems,
developmental delays, and susceptibility to infection. The
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences reports that
half of those affected by mitochondrial disease are children who
show symptoms before age five and approximately 80% of these
children will not survive beyond the age of 20. There is no
treatment or cure for any of these rare diseases.
The Office of Rare Diseases Research was established in 1993
within NIH to coordinate and support research to respond to the
needs of patients who have any one of the more than 6,800 rare
diseases known today. Among other things, the ORDR advises NIH
on an agenda for conducting rare diseases research and reports
to Congress and the public about NIH-supported scientific rare
diseases research advances and future plans; identifies and
responds to scientific opportunities and builds international
research collaborations; supports a program to develop new
genetic tests that are made available to the public; cosponsors
the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center; and, provides
opportunities for patient support groups to become partners with
the NIH, to better understand NIH research programs, and to gain
better access to NIH research opportunities. The NIH reports
that many of its institutes are currently supporting research
relevant to mitochondrial function and dysfunction; it has
committed to establishing a mitochondrial research initiative
that would involve all NIH institutes, and has awarded grant
funding for mitochondrial research.
The Association of Regional Center Agencies writes in support
that additional federal funds to conduct more extensive research
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into the causes of mitochondrial diseases and dysfunctions
associated with such disorders as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and
autism are needed because the additional research could help
stem the rise of these disorders.
Analysis Prepared by : Cassie Rafanan / HEALTH / (916)
319-2097
FN: 0005005