Bill Text: CA SCR21 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Multiple System Atrophy Awareness Month.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-05-09 - Referred to Com. on RLS. [SCR21 Detail]
Download: California-2013-SCR21-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: SCR 21 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Emmerson MARCH 4, 2013 Relative to Multiple System Atrophy Awareness Month. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SCR 21, as introduced, Emmerson. Multiple System Atrophy Awareness Month. This measure would designate March 2013 as Multiple System Atrophy Awareness Month. Fiscal committee: no. WHEREAS, Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), as defined by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a combination of symptoms that affects both the autonomic nervous system and movement; and WHEREAS, The cause or causes of MSA are unknown and there is no known cure; and WHEREAS, It can take years to diagnose MSA because of its similarity to Parkinson's disease; and WHEREAS, MSA is categorized into two types, parkinsonian and cerebellar, and the categorization is based on the most prominent symptoms at the time an individual is evaluated; and WHEREAS, Primary symptoms of the parkinsonian type (MSA-P) are slow movement, stiff muscles, tremors, balance and coordination problems, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction; and WHEREAS, Primary symptoms of the cerebellar type (MSA-C) are difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, a quavering voice, and ataxia; and WHEREAS, Additional symptoms include chronic shortening of muscles or tendons around joints, abnormal body posture, uncontrollable sighing or gasping, inappropriate laughing or crying, fainting and dizziness due to severely low blood pressure, bladder and bowel issues, loss of fine motor skills, impotence, nausea, vision changes, dry mouth and skin, trouble regulating body temperature, and sleep disturbances; and WHEREAS, Treatment to control individual symptoms is available, but there is currently nothing to prevent the disease from getting worse; and WHEREAS, Upon diagnosis, the typical survival time is seven to nine years, although almost 80 percent are bedridden or wheelchair dependent after only five years; and WHEREAS, Prevalence of MSA is estimated at 4.6 cases per 100,000 people, and is more common in men than in women; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That March 2013 is hereby proclaimed to be Multiple System Atrophy Awareness Month; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.