BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  SCR 88
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 25, 2012

                             ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES
                                Nancy Skinner, Chair
                  SCR 88 (Alquist) - As Introduced:  April 30, 2012
                             (As Proposed to Be Amended)

           SENATE VOTE  :   31-1
           
          SUBJECT  :   Arthritis Awareness Month.

           SUMMARY  :   Recognizes the month of May 2012 as Arthritis 
          Awareness Month in California and proclaims that the Legislature 
          understands the extent of, and sympathizes with, the severity of 
          the impact of arthritis on California; and appreciates the 
          efforts of the California Arthritis Foundation Council to seek 
          access to care for all Californians.  Specifically,  this 
          legislation  makes the following legislative findings: 

          1)Arthritis is our nation's leading cause of disability and 
            principal driver of health care costs; and early diagnosis and 
            appropriate management can help people with arthritis decrease 
            pain, improve function, stay productive, and lower health care 
            costs.

          2)Arthritis encompasses more than 100 diseases and conditions 
            that affect the joints, tissues and surrounding the joints, 
            and other organs; and the most common forms of arthritis 
            include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, 
            gout, psoriatic arthritis, and lupus.

          3)During Arthritis Awareness Month, we recognize the efforts of 
            advocacy groups, such as the Arthritis Foundation, that 
            sponsor public awareness activities and fund research to 
            improve treatments for the disease.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   None

           COMMENTS  :  The author has agreed to an amendment adding Assembly 
          Member Beall as a principal co-author.  The amendment will 
          eliminate duplication in recognizing Arthritis Awareness Month.  
          The committee recommends the measure be adopted as proposed to 
          be amended.

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   








                                                                  SCR 88
                                                                  Page  2


           Support 
           
          None on file.

           Opposition 
           
          None on file.

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