BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                            



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                                    THIRD READING


          Bill No:  ACR 139
          Author:   Ridley-Thomas (D), et al.
          Amended:  4/28/14 in Assembly
          Vote:     21


           ASSEMBLY FLOOR  :  Read and adopted, 4/28/14


           SUBJECT  :    Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month

           SOURCE  :     Author


           DIGEST  :    This resolution designates the month of April 2014 as  
          Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month.

           ANALYSIS  :    This resolution makes the following legislative  
          findings: 

          1.Parkinson's disease impacts one million people in the United  
            States and its prevalence is expected to rise in parallel with  
            increasing life expectancy, with projections estimating a 100%  
            increase in the number of people affected by 2030.

          2.Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative  
            condition most commonly characterized by motor symptoms such  
            as tremor and rigidity.  Patients also suffer from nonmotor  
            symptoms, such as sleep disturbances and depression, all of  
            which can significantly affect the patient's daily activities  
            and motor functions.

          3.Life expectancy is reduced for all onset ages, with disease  
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            progression leading to severe disability and possible  
            confinement to a wheelchair or a bed.

          4.Caring for Parkinson's disease patients is a task that becomes  
            increasingly complex and demanding as the severity of the  
            disease progresses, until caring for the patient becomes the  
            caregiver's main or almost only activity, resulting in  
            significant caregiver burden.

          5.Increased awareness and expanded knowledge of the realities of  
            life with Parkinson's disease will allow the community at  
            large to better support people who struggle with the  
            challenges of this debilitating condition. 

          6.The National Parkinson Foundation, the Parkinson's Action  
            Network, and the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, all nonprofit  
            organizations, have joined together to promote Parkinson's  
            disease awareness and support, including improved education,  
            knowledge, research, and treatment.  These organizations are  
            urging patients and their supporters, health care providers,  
            and the general public to demonstrate that they care by  
            sharing the road patient's walk, the facts about Parkinson's  
            disease, and the ever growing awareness about the etiology of  
            the disorder and potential treatments.

          This resolution designates the month of April 2014 as  
          Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month, and urges all citizens to  
          support the search for a cure and to assist those individuals  
          and families who deal with this disabling disease on a daily  
          basis.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Fiscal Com.:  No

           SUPPORT  :   (Verified  5/6/14)

          Parkinson's Action Network


          JL:e  5/7/14   Senate Floor Analyses 

                           SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE

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