BILL NUMBER: ACR 136 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
RESOLUTION CHAPTER 40
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE JUNE 1, 2012
ADOPTED IN SENATE MAY 29, 2012
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 16, 2012
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 16, 2012
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 9, 2012
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Ma
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano,
Atkins, Bill Berryhill, Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford,
Brownley, Buchanan, Butler, Charles Calderon, Campos, Carter,
Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Dickinson, Donnelly, Eng, Feuer, Fong, Beth
Gaines, Galgiani, Garrick, Gatto, Gordon, Gorell, Grove, Hagman,
Halderman, Hall, Harkey, Hayashi, Roger Hernández, Hill, Huber,
Hueso, Huffman, Jeffries, Jones, Lara, Bonnie Lowenthal, Mansoor,
Miller, Mitchell, Monning, Morrell, Nestande, Nielsen, Olsen, Pan,
John A. Pérez, V. Manuel Pérez, Portantino, Silva, Solorio, Swanson,
Torres, Wagner, Wieckowski, and Yamada)
MARCH 21, 2012
Relative to Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 136, Ma. Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week.
This measure recognizes April 15 to April 21, 2012, inclusive, as
"Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week."
WHEREAS, In California, over 500,000 babies are born every year;
and
WHEREAS, The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes that
babies, infants, and toddlers are especially vulnerable to abusive
head trauma, also known as "Shaken Baby Syndrome," the pattern of
injury that results from an act of violent shaking by a parent or
caregiver; and
WHEREAS, Shaken Baby Syndrome and other inflicted head trauma is
now recognized as a leading cause of child fatalities among children
who are physically abused; and
WHEREAS, Researchers at the University of California, Irvine,
report that babies younger than five months of age are at the
greatest risk of injury and death due to abuse or neglect; and
WHEREAS, A 2003 report in the Journal of the American Medical
Association surveyed the incidence of Shaken Baby Syndrome and
estimated that an average of 300 children will die each year from
Shaken Baby Syndrome and 600 to 1,200 more children will be injured;
and
WHEREAS, Medical professionals believe that there are thousands of
cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome that are misdiagnosed or undetected;
and
WHEREAS, It is estimated that during an average year in
California, 220 to 280 children under five years of age will require
medical attention because of inflicted head injuries, and two-thirds
of these injuries are likely to occur in babies or infants younger
than one year of age; and
WHEREAS, Roughly one-third of the victims of Shaken Baby Syndrome
will suffer from developmental problems, including partial or total
blindness, hearing loss, seizures, speech and learning difficulties,
paralysis, and severe intellectual disability; and
WHEREAS, The infliction of injuries often occurs when a parent or
caregiver is not prepared to cope with the frustration and anger that
can result from the inconsolable crying of an infant or unrealistic
expectations of a child's behavior; and
WHEREAS, Shaken Baby Syndrome and the injuries inflicted are
preventable; and
WHEREAS, The medical costs of treating Shaken Baby Syndrome cases
and the costs of rehabilitation services to surviving infants average
between $18,000 and $70,000 for initial hospitalizations, and may
exceed more than $1,000,000 for the care of a single disabled child
over the course of his or her lifetime; and
WHEREAS, The lifetime cost of the estimated 220 to 280 Shaken Baby
Syndrome victims each year in California ranges between $78,000,000
and $104,000,000; and
WHEREAS, The costs of those services are primarily paid by the
Medi-Cal program, which in the year 2000 paid for 42.4 percent of
births in the state, and by private health insurers, resulting in
higher taxes and higher health insurance costs for all citizens of
the state; and
WHEREAS, At least 75 percent of Shaken Baby Syndrome victims are
Medi-Cal recipients when they are diagnosed; and
WHEREAS, Shaken Baby Syndrome cases further impose costs to
communities in many ways, including the investigation and prosecution
of Shaken Baby Syndrome cases, the tragic disruption of families,
and the special education needs that are frequently required by those
who have survived even modest head traumas; and
WHEREAS, Shaken Baby Syndrome prevention programs have
demonstrated that educating new parents about the danger of shaking
young children and how they can help protect their child from injury
can effect a significant reduction in the number of Shaken Baby
Syndrome cases; and
WHEREAS, The minimal costs and effort of these educational and
preventative programs avert enormous medical and disability costs and
untold grief for many families; and
WHEREAS, Efforts to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome are supported by
numerous organizations, including the National Center on Shaken Baby
Syndrome, the San Francisco Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Project,
the San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center, the Hannah Rose
Foundation, and the Greater Bay Area Child Abuse Prevention Council
Coalition; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature strongly supports efforts to
protect our children, especially through education and awareness
activities that enable parents to keep their children safe from
injury and neglect; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes the week of April 15 to
April 21, 2012, inclusive, as "Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week"
in the State of California; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature requests that the Governor proclaim
the week of April 15 to April 21, 2012, inclusive, as "Shaken Baby
Syndrome Awareness Week" in the State of California; and be it
further
Resolved, That the Legislature shall undertake, and encourages the
Governor to undertake, all practicable efforts to educate new
parents, child care providers, foster and adoptive parents,
babysitters, and other persons who care for our children about Shaken
Baby Syndrome, including the causes and consequences of shaking
injuries, the need to be prepared to cope with frustration and anger,
and the need to educate caregivers on ways to help protect children
from injury; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.