BILL NUMBER: SCR 18INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Alquist (Coauthor: Assembly Member Audra Strickland) FEBRUARY 24, 2009 Relative to Respiratory Syncytial Virus Awareness Month. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SCR 18, as introduced, Alquist. Respiratory Syncytial Virus Awareness Month. This measure would designate the month of March of each year as Respiratory Syncytial Virus Awareness Month in the State of California. This measure would also encourage public officials and the citizens of California to observe the month with appropriate activities and educational outreach to parents and the medical community, as well as programs to raise awareness about the causes of, symptoms of, and ways of preventing Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Fiscal committee: yes. WHEREAS, The number of babies born premature, at less than 37 weeks of gestational age, continues to grow in the United States, with an increase of 20 percent since 1990 and an increase of 9 percent since 2000; and WHEREAS, In June 2005, 12.7 percent of all births were premature, at less than 37 weeks gestational age. This amounts to more than 525,000 infants; and WHEREAS, According to the March of Dimes, in 2004, California ranked in the top 10 states for preterm births (less than 37 completed weeks of gestational age) and very preterm births (less than 32 completed weeks of gestational age). In 2005, 548,882 children were born in California and approximately 10 percent, or 56,363 children, were born premature; and WHEREAS, The increase in premature birth rates in recent years is primarily associated with a rise in late preterm births (34 to 36 weeks of gestational age), which has increased 25 percent since 1990 and accounts for 70 percent of all preterm births. Although multiple births have contributed to this rise, substantial increases in preterm birth rates, and especially late preterm birth rates, have occurred because of singleton birth rates since 1990; and WHEREAS, Several studies have found that late preterm infants have greater morbidity and mortality than full-term infants. Late preterm infants have a mortality rate that is three times greater than full-term infants, with the highest mortality risk occurring during the neonatal period; and WHEREAS, Late preterm infants have higher costs in every type of medical service category compared to full-term infants, including inpatient hospitalizations, well baby physician office visits, outpatient hospital services, home health care services, and prescription drug use; and WHEREAS, The five leading causes of rehospitalization for all infants includes Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) bronchiolitis, bronchiolitis (cause unspecified), pneumonia (cause unspecified), jaundice, and dehydration. Among these causes, RSV is the most common cause of viral death in children under five years of age and the leading cause of hospitalization in infants less than one year of age; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature designates the month of March of each year as Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Awareness Month in the State of California. The Legislature encourages public officials and the citizens of California to observe the month with appropriate activities and educational outreach to parents and the medical community, as well as programs to raise awareness about the causes of, symptoms of, and ways of preventing RSV; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.