BILL NUMBER: ACR 167ENROLLED BILL TEXT ADOPTED IN SENATE AUGUST 25, 2010 ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 9, 2010 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 2, 2010 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Ma (Coauthors: Assembly Members Brownley, Hall, Jeffries, and Bonnie Lowenthal) (Coauthor: Senator Huff) MAY 24, 2010 Relative to Students with Epilepsy Month. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ACR 167, Ma. Students with Epilepsy Month. This measure would recognize September 2010 and each September thereafter as Students with Epilepsy Month. This measure would also encourage the epilepsy foundations in California to continue to join with the educational and health communities to conduct epilepsy education and awareness. WHEREAS, Epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects over 3 million Americans. More Americans are affected by epilepsy than by cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and Parkinson' s disease combined; and WHEREAS, Epilepsy affects approximately 400,000 Californians, 90,000 of whom are children under 18 years of age; and WHEREAS, While epilepsy can begin at any age, it most commonly occurs in children and the elderly; and WHEREAS, Epilepsy affects individuals with varying severity, ranging from a very limited effect on the individual to devastating impacts on all aspects of life; and WHEREAS, Early diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy is critical to maximizing long-term prognosis; and WHEREAS, A seizure is caused by a brief change in the normal functioning of the brain's electrical system; and WHEREAS, Seizures are most often associated with convulsions, in fact, a seizure can also be as subtle as strange sensations or perceptions, altered awareness, brief staring episodes, abnormal motions or postures, stiffness, or confused speech; and WHEREAS, In children with epilepsy uncontrolled seizures damage the child's developing brain and can impact academic performance, memory, learning, and result in social-emotional challenges; and WHEREAS, Recognizing Students with Epilepsy Month will positively demonstrate the ability of children to succeed in spite of their seizures; and WHEREAS, Students with Epilepsy Month will provide an opportunity for the school community to become better aware of, and educated about, epilepsy; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes September 2010 and each September thereafter as Students with Epilepsy Month; and be it further Resolved, That the Epilepsy Foundations in California are encouraged to continue to join with the educational and health communities to conduct epilepsy education and awareness; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.