BILL NUMBER: ACR 112 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT

RESOLUTION CHAPTER 154
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 19, 2008
ADOPTED IN SENATE AUGUST 30, 2008
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 31, 2008
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 25, 2008
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 6, 2008
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 15, 2008

INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Dymally
(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Soto)
(Principal coauthor: Senator Negrete McLeod)

MARCH 3, 2008

Relative to a Legislative Task Force on Fibromyalgia.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


ACR 112, Dymally. Legislative Task Force on Fibromyalgia.
This measure would establish a Legislative Task Force on
Fibromyalgia, consisting of specified members, to establish a public
information and outreach campaign, promote fibromyalgia education and
training programs for physicians and other health professionals,
collaborate with a broad group of stakeholders, review current state
policies and practices concerning treatment of fibromyalgia, develop
a State Fibromyalgia Strategic Plan to be submitted to the
Legislature by September 1, 2009, and hold a Fibromyalgia Summit
during the 2009-10 Regular Session of the Legislature.




WHEREAS, Fibromyalgia is a significant health problem that affects
an estimated 6 to 8 percent of Americans and countless thousands of
Californians; and
WHEREAS, Fibromyalgia is a debilitating disease that fully
disables thousands of Californians with symptoms that are chronic and
include pain, extreme fatigue, sleep disorders, migraine headaches,
and impairment of memory and concentration; and
WHEREAS, Many fibromyalgia patients suffer for an average of five
years before obtaining a correct diagnosis, which results in a
worsened condition that is more debilitating and more difficult and
expensive to treat; and
WHEREAS, Fibromyalgia is costly to California in both economic and
social terms. With respect to the economic cost, an estimated $1
billion in medical expenses, lost wages, and other associated
economic costs can be attributed to fibromyalgia. With respect to the
social cost, fibromyalgia impacts many families and children, as
demonstrated by the fact that 80 percent of fibromyalgia patients are
women; and
WHEREAS, Evidence indicates that the incidence of fibromyalgia may
be increasing at a rapid rate; and
WHEREAS, A legislative task force on fibromyalgia is necessary to
do all of the following:
(a) Promote public awareness of fibromyalgia, which is a
widespread, but poorly understood, disease.
(b) Promote understanding of the importance of early diagnosis and
proper treatment and management of fibromyalgia.
(c) Promote the delivery of appropriate information, programs, and
services regarding fibromyalgia.
(d) Encourage research into the nature, cause, and treatment of
fibromyalgia; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislative Task Force on Fibromyalgia
is hereby established, which shall consist of 14 members, as follows:

(a) The Speaker of the Assembly shall appoint to the task force
one Member of the Assembly from the majority caucus and one Member of
the Assembly from the minority caucus.
(b) The Senate Committee on Rules shall appoint to the task force
one Member of the Senate from the majority caucus and one Member of
the Senate from the minority caucus.
(c) The Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Committee on Rules
shall each appoint five members to the task force. These 10 members
shall include some who have demonstrated knowledge and an expertise
in any of the following:
(1) Fibromyalgia research.
(2) Fibromyalgia prevention.
(3) Fibromyalgia educational programs.
(4) Fibromyalgia consumer needs; and be it further
Resolved, That the National Fibromyalgia Association shall convene
the first meeting of the task force to elect officers; and be it
further
Resolved, That the National Fibromyalgia Association shall supply
supporting staff to the task force; and be it further
Resolved, That members of the task force shall not receive any
compensation for serving on the task force; and be it further
Resolved, That the task force shall perform various functions
regarding fibromyalgia, including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) Establishing a public information and outreach campaign
targeting women between 20 and 50 years of age, that includes
appropriate educational material aimed at promoting early diagnosis
and treatment, preventing complications, improving quality of life at
home and in the workplace, and addressing mental health and
disability issues of fibromyalgia patients.
(b) Promoting fibromyalgia education and training programs for
physicians and other health professionals.
(c) Collaborating with a broad group of stakeholders, reviewing
current state policies and practices concerning treatment of
fibromyalgia, and developing a State Fibromyalgia Strategic Plan for
2010 to 2020, inclusive. The plan shall be submitted to the
Legislature by September 1, 2009.
(d) Holding a Fibromyalgia Summit during the 2009-10 Regular
Session of the Legislature to make public the findings and progress
of the Legislative Task Force on Fibromyalgia; and be it further
Resolved, That state funds shall not be used to support task force
activities, but the task force may solicit funding from public and
private foundations, and make use of available federal funds; and be
it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

BILL NUMBER: SJR 25 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT

RESOLUTION CHAPTER 117
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE AUGUST 27, 2008
ADOPTED IN SENATE AUGUST 19, 2008
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 14, 2008
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 30, 2008

INTRODUCED BY Senator Negrete McLeod
(Coauthors: Senators Correa, Kuehl, Margett, and Romero)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Dymally, Garcia, Portantino,
Sharon?Runner, and Saldana)

MARCH 10, 2008

Relative to fibromyalgia.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SJR 25, Negrete McLeod. Fibromyalgia.
This measure would urge the Congress of the United States to
accelerate the federal investment in fibromyalgia research at the
National Institutes of Health, to ensure adequate Medicare and
Medicaid reimbursement and coverage of fibromyalgia therapies, and to
launch a multifaceted public awareness campaign on fibromyalgia.



WHEREAS, Fibromyalgia is defined by the American College of
Rheumatology as a disabling pain condition. Fibromyalgia symptoms
include chronic pain throughout the body, extreme fatigue, sleep
disorders, stiffness, weakness, migraine headaches, and impairment of
memory and concentration; and
WHEREAS, Fibromyalgia is a common condition with no known cure
that affects women, men, and children of all ethnicities; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 10 million people in the United States and
millions of people worldwide have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia;
and
WHEREAS, There is no test for fibromyalgia, so it often takes an
average of five years to receive a diagnosis. Furthermore, medical
professionals are frequently inadequately educated on diagnosis and
treatment of fibromyalgia; and
WHEREAS, Many fibromyalgia patients find themselves underinsured
or uninsured because they are too sick to work or have been denied
health care coverage and access to treatments because they have
fibromyalgia; and
WHEREAS, Fibromyalgia costs the United States health care system
$20 billion annually and strongly impacts families who experience
lost wages and extensive out-of-pocket medical costs; and
WHEREAS, The California Legislative Women's Caucus recognizes that
80 percent of fibromyalgia patients are women, that hundreds of
thousands of those affected by fibromyalgia live in California, and
that there is an urgent need to respond to the vast needs of this
patient population; and
WHEREAS, The California Legislative Women's Caucus has taken the
National Fibromyalgia Association's Pledge to Care by advocating for
improved treatments, expanded research, comprehensive health
insurance coverage, and increased awareness of fibromyalgia; now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature respectfully urges the
Congress of the United States to accelerate the federal investment in
fibromyalgia research at the National Institutes of Health, to
ensure adequate Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement and coverage of
fibromyalgia therapies, and to launch a multifaceted public awareness
campaign on fibromyalgia; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States,
to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority
Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative from
California in the Congress of the United States.

BILL NUMBER: SCR 80 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT

RESOLUTION CHAPTER 119
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE AUGUST 31, 2006
ADOPTED IN SENATE AUGUST 22, 2006
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 19, 2006
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 8, 2006
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 7, 2006

INTRODUCED BY Senator Alquist

JANUARY 19, 2006

Relative to Arthritis Awareness.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SCR 80, Alquist Arthritis awareness.
This measure would recognize the need to create and foster a
statewide arthritis awareness program, as prescribed, and to work to
adequately fund the program in 2006. The measure would also proclaim
August 2006 as Arthritis Awareness Month.




WHEREAS, The success of our nation depends upon a population that
is healthy, reasonably free of pain, and functionally independent
throughout the lifespan; and
WHEREAS, Arthritis includes more than 100 diseases and conditions
affecting joints and connective tissues, such as osteoarthritis,
rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, and gout; and
WHEREAS, According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the
United States, significantly affecting the quality of life for more
than 70 million Americans who experience its painful symptoms; and
WHEREAS, According to the State Department of Health Services'
California Arthritis Atlas, a 2002 report on the impact of arthritis
statewide, more than 6.5 million California adults, constituting 27
percent of the population, have arthritis; and
WHEREAS, Arthritis affects people in all age groups, including as
many as 285,000 children; and
WHEREAS, A disproportionate number of older Californians, or an
estimated 46 percent of those 45 years of age and older, have
arthritis or experience chronic joint symptoms, and over one-half of
all persons age 65 years or older have arthritis; and
WHEREAS, The State Department of Health Services concluded, in its
2002 California Arthritis Atlas, that arthritis costs the California
economy an estimated $32 billion annually in medical expenses and
lost wages; and
WHEREAS, Reports from the CDC and agencies in California indicate
that disability is more severe in underserved populations that lack
access to early diagnosis and treatment; and
WHEREAS, Existing public information and programs about arthritis
in California remain inadequately disseminated and insufficient in
addressing the needs of specific diverse populations and other
underserved groups; and
WHEREAS, Educating the public and the health care community
throughout the state about this devastating disease is of paramount
importance and is in every respect in the public interest and to the
benefit of all residents of the State of California; and
WHEREAS, The California Arthritis Foundation chapters, in
partnership with other agencies throughout the state, have led the
development of a public health strategy, the National Arthritis
Action Plan, to respond to this challenge; and
WHEREAS, Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the
United States, and is associated with poorer physical health and
poorer mental health; and
WHEREAS, Arthritis is not necessarily an inevitable part of the
aging process; rather, effective methods exist to prevent, delay the
onset of, and manage the symptoms of, arthritis; now, therefore, be
it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby recognizes the need
to create and foster a statewide program, in coordination with the
California Arthritis Foundation chapters, that emphasizes a
multiethnic approach, promotes public awareness, and increases
knowledge about the causes of arthritis, the importance of early
diagnosis and appropriate management, effective prevention
strategies, and pain prevention and management; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes the need to work in 2006
to adequately fund the statewide program, so as to allow for the
development and dissemination to patients, health professionals, and
the public, of educational materials, information on research
results, available services, and strategies for prevention and
control, and for the adaptation of this material to the appropriate
languages and reading levels of medically underserved, ethnically
diverse communities; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature proclaims the month of August 2006
as Arthritis Awareness Month; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

BILL NUMBER: SCR 14 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT

RESOLUTION CHAPTER 66
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE JUNE 19, 2003
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 16, 2003
ADOPTED IN SENATE MAY 15, 2003
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 12, 2003

INTRODUCED BY Senator McPherson
(Coauthors: Senators Denham, Machado, and Margett)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Benoit, Shirley Horton, Levine,
Maldonado, and Maze)

MARCH 6, 2003

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 14--Relative to arthritis
awareness.



LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SCR 14, McPherson. Arthritis awareness.
This measure would recognize the need to create and foster a
statewide arthritis awareness program, as prescribed, and to work to
adequately fund the program in 2004.




WHEREAS, Arthritis encompasses more than 100 diseases and
conditions that affect joints and connective tissues, such as
osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, gout, lupus, and
Lyme Disease; and
WHEREAS, According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the
United States, significantly affecting the quality of life for more
than 70 million Americans who experience its painful symptoms; and
WHEREAS, According to the State Department of Health Services'
California Arthritis Atlas, a 2002 report on the impact of arthritis
statewide, more than 6.5 million California adults, constituting 27
percent of the population, have arthritis; and
WHEREAS, Arthritis affects people in all age groups, including as
many as 285,000 children; and
WHEREAS, A disproportionate number of older Californians, or an
estimated 46 percent of those 45 years of age and older, have
arthritis or experience chronic joint symptoms, and over one-half of
all persons age 65 years or older have arthritis; and
WHEREAS, Arthritis is not necessarily an inevitable part of the
aging process. Effective methods exist to prevent, delay the onset
of, and manage the symptoms of the disease; and
WHEREAS, The State Department of Health Services concluded in its
2002 California Arthritis Atlas that arthritis costs the California
economy an estimated $32 billion annually in medical expenses and
lost wages; and
WHEREAS, Reports from the CDC and agencies in California indicate
that disability is more severe in underserved populations that lack
access to early diagnosis and treatment; and
WHEREAS, Existing public information and programs about arthritis
in California remain inadequately disseminated and insufficient in
addressing the needs of specific diverse populations and other
underserved groups; and
WHEREAS, Educating the public and the health care community
throughout the state about this devastating disease is of paramount
importance and is in every respect in the public interest and to the
benefit of all residents of the State of California; and
WHEREAS, The California Arthritis Foundation chapters, in
partnership with other agencies throughout the state, have led the
development of a public health strategy, the National Arthritis
Action Plan, to respond to this challenge; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby recognizes the need
to create and foster a statewide program, in coordination with the
California Arthritis Foundation chapters, that emphasizes a
multiethnic approach, promotes public awareness, and increases
knowledge about the causes of arthritis, the importance of early
diagnosis and appropriate management, effective prevention
strategies, and pain prevention and management; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes the need to work in 2004
to adequately fund the statewide program, so as to allow for the
development and dissemination to patients, health professionals, and
the public, of educational materials, information on research
results, available services, and strategies for prevention and
control, and for the adaptation of this material to the appropriate
languages and reading levels of medically underserved, ethnically
diverse communities; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

BILL NUMBER: ACR 98 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT

RESOLUTION CHAPTER 58
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE JUNE 3, 2003
ADOPTED IN SENATE MAY 29, 2003
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 19, 2003
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 19, 2003

INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Shirley Horton
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Aghazarian, Bates, Benoit, Berg,
Bermudez, Bogh, Calderon, Campbell, Canciamilla, Chan, Chavez, Chu,
Cogdill, Cohn, Corbett, Correa, Cox, Daucher, Diaz, Dutra, Dutton,
Dymally, Firebaugh, Frommer, Goldberg, Hancock, Harman, Jerome
Horton, Houston, Jackson, Keene, Kehoe, Koretz, La Malfa, La Suer,
Laird, Leno, Leslie, Levine, Lieber, Liu, Longville, Lowenthal,
Maddox, Maldonado, Matthews, Maze, McCarthy, Montanez, Mountjoy,
Mullin, Nakanishi, Nakano, Nation, Negrete McLeod, Nunez, Oropeza,
Parra, Pavley, Plescia, Reyes, Richman, Ridley-Thomas, Runner,
Salinas, Samuelian, Simitian, Spitzer, Steinberg, Strickland, Vargas,
Wesson, Wiggins, Wolk, Wyland, and Yee)

APRIL 28, 2003

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 98--Relative to Arthritis
Awareness Month.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


ACR 98, Shirley Horton. Arthritis Awareness Month.
This measure would proclaim May 2003 as Arthritis Awareness Month.




WHEREAS, The success of our nation depends upon a population that
is healthy, reasonably free of pain, and functionally independent
throughout the lifespan; and
WHEREAS, Arthritis includes more than 100 diseases and conditions
affecting joints and connective tissues, such as osteoarthritis,
rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, and gout; and
WHEREAS, Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the
United States, and is associated with poorer physical health and
poorer mental health; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 27 percent of Californians have some form of
arthritis; and
WHEREAS, Arthritis costs California nearly $32 billion each year,
with an estimated $23.2 billion spent on direct medical care, and
$8.3 billion due to lost wages; and
WHEREAS, A disproportionate number of older Californians, or an
estimated 44 percent of adults over 65 years of age, are affected by
arthritis; and
WHEREAS, Arthritis is not necessarily an inevitable part of the
aging process; rather, effective methods exist to prevent, delay the
onset of, and manage the symptoms of, arthritis; now, therefore, be
it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the California State Legislature proclaims
the month of May 2003 as Arthritis Awareness Month; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.