Bill Text: CA SCR80 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 15-8)

Status: (Passed) 2024-09-05 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 202, Statutes of 2024. [SCR80 Detail]

Download: California-2023-SCR80-Introduced.html

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Concurrent Resolution

No. 80

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Introduced by Senator Roth

June 19, 2023

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Relative to Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SCR 80, as introduced, Roth. Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

This measure would declare the month of September 2023 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and state the commitment of the Legislature to support efforts to find cures for, and achieve prevention of, childhood cancer.

Digest Key

Fiscal Committee: NO  

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Bill Text

WHEREAS, Cancer is by far the leading cause of death by disease among children in this country; and

WHEREAS, According to the American Cancer Society, there are more than a dozen types of childhood cancer, each with their own unique challenges and treatment options; and

WHEREAS, Many children in California are afflicted with cancer, experiencing enormous pain and suffering, and they and their families require extraordinary levels of information and support in their struggles against this disease; and

WHEREAS, In addition to childhood cancer treatment being time-consuming, it is oftentimes expensive, as a report by the American Cancer Society found that treatment for childhood cancer costs can range from tens of thousands of dollars to over $1,000,000, depending on the type of cancer and the duration of treatment; and

WHEREAS, Children with cancer often require long hospitals stays, with an average of 12.5 days according to the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO); and

WHEREAS, Long and frequent hospital stays disrupt children’s educational and social development, in addition to being financially challenging to their families; and

WHEREAS, Successful prevention and treatment of many types of childhood cancer has not yet been achieved; and

WHEREAS, Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease amongst children in the United States, however, childhood cancer research receives less than 4 percent of all federal cancer research funding; and

WHEREAS, The prevention and treatment of cancer requires a high level of commitment in order to provide the necessary resources and research; and

WHEREAS, California has many of the world’s finest medical, academic, and commercial institutions, and must continue as a leader in the fight against this terrible disease; and

WHEREAS, The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) provides over $3,000,000,000 total in funding for stem cell research and therapy development, including cancer research, making the State of California a leader in the nation for funding and research; and

WHEREAS, Increased public awareness of this major public health problem is a crucial step toward finding solutions; and

WHEREAS, The ACCO is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots organization dedicated to fighting childhood cancer. In 1997, a group of parents of children impacted by cancer chose gold to represent childhood cancer. Thus, the gold ribbon. Ever since then, supporters around the world Go Gold to represent childhood cancer warriors and heroes; and

WHEREAS, The ACCO is making childhood cancer a national health priority through shaping policy, supporting research, raising awareness, and providing educational resources and innovative programs to children with cancer, survivors, and their families; and

WHEREAS, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is an important nationwide tool for raising awareness among governmental officials and the public about the nature and scope of this problem; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby declares the month of September 2023 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature is committed to supporting efforts to find cures for, and achieve prevention of, childhood cancer; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.