AMENDED IN SENIOR ASSEMBLY OCTOBER 31, 2012

AMENDED IN SENIOR SENAT OCTOBER 30, 2012

SENIOR SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 21

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR KIM-SELBY

(COAUTHORS: SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBERS KROHN AND RICHARDS)

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SP 21: STROKE SYMPTOM EDUCATION

UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IS AUTHORIZED TO PERFORM STUDIES, DEMONSTRATE INNOVATIVE METHODS, AND DISSEMINATE INFORMATION RELATING TO THE PROTECTION, PRESERVATION, AND ADVANCEMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING TO IMPLEMENT A STROKE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SP 21: RELATING TO PUBLIC HEALTH

WHEREAS, STROKES ARE THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF ADULT LONG-TERM DISABILITY IN THE UNITED STATES EACH YEAR ABOUT 795,000 PEOPLE SUFFER A STROKE, ABOUT 600,000 OF THE STROKES ARE FIRST ATTACKS, AND 185,000 ARE RECURRING ATTACKS; AND

WHEREAS, STROKES ARE THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES. OVER 143,579 PEOPLE DIE EACH YEAR FROM STROKES IN THE UNITED STATES. STROKES KILL MORE THAN 16,000 CALIFORNIANS EACH YEAR. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HAS A SENIOR POPULATION OF 2,200, SIX PEOPLE SUFFER STROKES PER DAY, AND FIVE OF THEM ARE PREVENTABLE. TWO PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY IN THE COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA; AND

WHEREAS, STROKES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ESTIMATED $41 BILLION IN ANNUAL HEALTH CARE COSTS AND LOST PRODUCTIVITY; AND

WHEREAS, STROKES ACCOUNTED FOR ABOUT ONE OUT OF EVERY 17 DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES IN 2005. STROKE MORTALITY WAS 143,579 (56,586 MALES, 86,993 FEMALES); AND

WHEREAS, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS THE MOST SERIOUS RISK FACTOR FOR STROKE. A STROKE IS UNEXPECTED AND DEVELOPS SUDDENLY. UP TO 50 PERCENT OF ALL STROKE VICTIMS HAD NO PRIOR SYMPTOMS AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD STROKES FACE NINE TIMES GREATER RISK OF HAVING ANOTHER STROKE; AND

WHEREAS, IF ONE UNDERSTANDS THE RISK FACTORS: AGE, SEX, PRIOR STROKE, FAMILY HISTORY OF STROKES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, SMOKING, DIABETES, CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, LACK OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE, LACK OF A HEALTHY DIET, AND TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK; AND

WHEREAS, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN STROKE ASSOCIATION, 74 PERCENT OF THE UNITED STATES POPULATION DO NOT KNOW THE MOST COMMON WARNING SIGNS OF STROKE SYMPTOMS, SUCH AS SUDDEN NUMBNESS OR WEAKNESS IN AN ARM, LEG, OR FACE ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES, UNEXPECTED SEVERE HEADACHE, SUDDEN CONFUSION, TROUBLE SPEAKING OR UNDERSTANDING, SUDDEN VISION PROBLEMS IN ONE OR BOTH EYES, UNEXPLAINED DIZZINESS, SUDDEN TROUBLE WALKING, OR LOSS OF BALANCE OR COORDINATION; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2012 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING SHALL COORDINATE EFFORTS TO AND THEREAFTER DISSEMINATE STROKE INFORMATION VIA E-MAIL TO THE AREA AGENCY ON AGING, PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICERS, SENIOR CENTERS, SENIOR ADVOCACY GROUPS, SENIOR NETWORKS, AND STAKEHOLDERS; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT SHOULD ANY STROKE SYMPTOMS APPEAR, THE PERSON, OR HIS OR HER FAMILY, SHOULD CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY AS THERE ARE MEDICINES AVAILABLE WITHIN THREE HOURS AFTER A STROKE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

- 0 -

RN 12 17220