BILL NUMBER: SCR 75	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER  57
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JUNE 21, 2012
	ADOPTED IN SENATE  MAY 3, 2012
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 14, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Blakeslee

                        MARCH 14, 2012

   Relative to Viral Hepatitis Awareness Month.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 75, Blakeslee. Viral Hepatitis Awareness Month.
   This measure would declare the month of May 2012 to be Viral
Hepatitis Awareness Month in California.




   WHEREAS, Liver disease and liver cancer are among the eight most
common causes of death in California; and
   WHEREAS, Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are the leading causes of
primary liver cancer, one of the most deadly forms of cancer; and
   WHEREAS, Hepatitis C is the most prevalent bloodborne disease in
the United States and in California; and
   WHEREAS, While the numbers are understated due to inadequate
surveillance, public health experts estimate that more than 450,000
Californians are chronically infected with hepatitis C and 280,000
Californians are chronically infected with hepatitis B; and
   WHEREAS, An undetected and untreated hepatitis B or hepatitis C
infection can lead to disability or death; and
   WHEREAS, The fatality rate has doubled for hepatitis C in
California since 2002; and
   WHEREAS, The majority of California residents with chronic
hepatitis C infection and hepatitis B infection do not know that they
are infected and are, therefore, at a higher risk of severe liver
disease, liver cancer, or liver failure; and
   WHEREAS, Untreated hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections are
leading causes of liver failure requiring a liver transplant; and
   WHEREAS, There is a vaccine for the prevention of hepatitis B,
which is the first proven, low-cost vaccination against any form of
cancer made available to Americans; and
   WHEREAS, The cost of hospitalizations for hepatitis B and
hepatitis C related liver cancer, liver disease, and liver
transplantation in 2010 exceeded $2 billion in California, most of
which was paid for by tax-supported, public health insurers; and
   WHEREAS, Experts estimate that the annual medical costs for
treating Americans with chronic hepatitis C infection are expected to
increase more than 2.5 times, from $30 billion to more than $85
billion over the next 20 years; and
   WHEREAS, Hepatitis awareness education campaigns and accessible
screening for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, along with appropriate
treatment, can reduce the financial, as well as physical and
emotional, damage from hepatitis B and hepatitis C viral infections
to individuals and to our community; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature declares the month of May
2012 to be Viral Hepatitis Awareness Month in California; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit sufficient
copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.