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

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

---

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-Amended.html

---

Amended  IN  Senate  August 08, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Concurrent Resolution

No. 80

---

Introduced by Senator Roth
(Principal coauthor: Senator Rubio)
(Coauthors: Senators Atkins, Dodd, Hurtado, Limón, Nguyen, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, Seyarto, Stern, Umberg, and Wilk)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Alanis, Juan Carrillo, Chen, Flora, Stephanie Nguyen, Papan, Petrie-Norris, Luz Rivas, Blanca Rubio, and Ting)

June 19, 2023

---

Relative to Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

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

This measure would declare the month of September 2023 2024 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and state the commitment of the Legislature to support efforts to find cures for, and achieve prevention of, cures, and less toxic treatments, for childhood cancer.

Digest Key

Fiscal Committee: NO  

---

Bill Text

WHEREAS, Cancer is by far According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO), cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among children in California and 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, The ACCO is making childhood cancer a national health priority by shaping policy with $98,800,000 appropriated in seven states, supporting research, raising awareness, providing educational resources and innovative programs to children with cancer, survivors, and their families; 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 potential years of life lost from childhood cancer and the potential years of life saved by treatment exceed all other cancers except for breast cancer; and

WHEREAS, California is a leader in the fight against and treatment of childhood cancers with 18 Children’s Oncology Group (COG) hospitals: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital Long Beach, Naval Medical Center San Diego, Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Valley Children’s Hospital; and

WHEREAS, California has the most National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated cancer centers in the country: UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Salk Cancer Center, Stanford Cancer Institute, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health, UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center; 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; research, but more targeted efforts on childhood cancer are still needed; and

WHEREAS, California is number one in the country for pediatric leukemia incidence rates and number 21 in the country for overall incidence rates; and

WHEREAS, Due to children’s bodies still growing and cancer treatments largely geared toward use on adults, children are more likely to experience long-term side effects from treatment which could include, but are not limited to, heart or lung problems, slowed or delayed development, changes in sexual development and infertility, learning disabilities, hearing loss, and increased risk of secondary forms of cancer; and

WHEREAS, California has many of the world’s finest medical, academic, and commercial institutions and the treatment of cancer requires a high level of commitment to provide the necessary resources and research that not only Californians have access to, but families all across the United States and the world travel to California for its extraordinary treatment and clinical trials; and

WHEREAS, Childhood cancer treatment is handled by a team of pediatric oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, pediatric oncology nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, psychologists, social workers, child life specialists, nutritionists, rehabilitation and physical therapists, and educators; and

WHEREAS, Some of the most important members of a pediatric cancer patient’s team are experienced parents who navigate and advocate on behalf of their children and other children fighting this disease; 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 cancer and was the leading organization to choose 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; cancer; 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 2024 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month; Month and encourages individuals, businesses, and organizations throughout the state to participate in activities and events that promote the awareness of childhood cancer and support families affected by this devastating disease, not just during September, but throughout the year; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature celebrates the progress of all related organizations in aiding children battling childhood cancer while simultaneously renewing its commitment to that cause, supports young Californians who are fighting cancer, honors young people who have lost their lives to childhood cancer, expresses gratitude to all hospital staff who provide special care to patients and families affected by childhood cancer, and encourages all residents in this state to join the fight against childhood cancer; and be it further

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

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