Bill Text: NJ SJR74 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates June of each year as "Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Awareness Month."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Passed) 2014-01-17 - Approved P.L.2013, JR-16. [SJR74 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-SJR74-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator LORETTA WEINBERG
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Designates June of each year as "Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Awareness Month."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating June of each year as "Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Awareness Month."
Whereas, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) is a family of inherited disorders that disrupt the production of several vital hormones including cortisol, which is responsible for managing blood sugar and stress, and aldosterone, which is responsible for managing salt and fluid levels in the body; and
Whereas, As an autosomal recessive genetic disorder, parents who do not have CAH may carry the gene that causes the disorder and may pass it to their children; two parents who are carriers of the gene would have a one in four chance of a child being born with CAH; and
Whereas, The disorder may occur in a variety of forms, including Classical CAH, a rare and potentially fatal condition, and Non-classical CAH, a much more common but less dangerous condition; and
Whereas, Classical CAH can lead to potentially fatal salt-wasting crises and may also cause symptoms such as an arrhythmic heartbeat, dehydration, and vomiting; and
Whereas, Classical CAH also causes increased production of androgen, which causes infant girls to develop male characteristics that they would not otherwise develop, including genital anomalies that are recognizable in the womb, which some parents choose to have corrected with surgery; and
Whereas, Classical CAH in infant boys is not as easily recognized as in girls and may often not be identified until they present with vomiting or life-threatening adrenal shock within the first few weeks after birth; and
Whereas, Non-classical CAH is a much more common version of the disorder that is not life-threatening, but can affect puberty and growth in children and may cause infertility in males and females as well as other symptoms affecting quality of life; and
Whereas, Early detection and treatment is essential to prevent death in infants with some versions of CAH, and all CAH patients require monitoring and hormone treatment throughout their lives; and
Whereas, CAH can be detected by newborn screening, and as of July 2008, every state in the United States mandates screening for CAH, but many children born around the world are not screened even though globally about one in 10,000-14,000 people suffer from classic CAH; and
Whereas, June 2012 was designated "Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Awareness Month" in New Jersey by the enactment of Joint Resolution No. 1 of 2012; and
Whereas, It is appropriate that the residents of New Jersey become better informed about CAH and its impact on the lives and health of so many; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The month of June is designated as "Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Awareness Month" in the State of New Jersey in recognition of the struggles faced by the people and families afflicted by the disorder and to raise awareness of this little-known condition.
2. The Legislature requests the Governor to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe "Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Awareness Month" with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates June of each year as "Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Awareness Month" in the State of New Jersey in recognition of the struggles faced by the people and families afflicted by the disorder and to raise awareness of this little-known condition.
The joint resolution requests the Governor to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe "Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Awareness Month" with appropriate activities and programs.
June 2012 was designated "Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Awareness Month" in accordance with Joint Resolution No. 1 of 2012. This joint resolution would make the designation permanent.
