Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 70 CHAPTER 69 Relative to Bone Marrow Donation Awareness Month. [ Filed with Secretary of State May 31, 2019. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTACR 70, Berman. Bone Marrow Donation Awareness Month.This measure would designate the month of May 2019 as Bone Marrow Donation Awareness Month.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill TextWHEREAS, Every three minutes, someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer or other blood disorder, which can happen to anyone at any time; andWHEREAS, Since 1987, when the United States Congress authorized the establishment of a national registry of volunteer bone marrow donors, the National Marrow Donor Program, now known as Be The Match, has facilitated more than 92,000 marrow and umbilical cord blood transplants; andWHEREAS, Seventy percent of all patients who need a bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cell, or cord blood transplant do not have a matched donor in their family and depend on the Be The Match Registry to find an unrelated donor or cord blood unit; andWHEREAS, In order to ensure that all patients have an equal chance of finding a match regardless of ethnic background, Be The Match has a specific need to increase awareness among African Americans, Latinos, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, Native Americans, and other underrepresented ethnic groups; andWHEREAS, Given the current composition of the Be The Match Registry, the likelihood of finding a match for a patient in need of a transplant ranges from 23 to 77 percent, depending on the patients ethnic background; andWHEREAS, California ranks first nationwide for patients searching for a match; andWHEREAS, The cure for blood cancer is in the hands of Californians; andWHEREAS, There is a need to enhance the understanding of how bone marrow donation delivers cures and to encourage Californians to join the Be The Match Registry; andWHEREAS, The bone marrow donor registration process only takes a few minutes and requires a simple cheek swab; andWHEREAS, There is a need to engage the public to increase diversity in the registry, with the goal of finding a matching donor for all patients to receive the transplant they need, when they need it; andWHEREAS, Although Be The Match operates the worlds largest and most diverse registry of potential bone marrow donors, including more than 20 million potential donors and 295,000 cord blood units on the Be The Match Registry, this registry is not enough; andWHEREAS, Regardless of background, socioeconomic status, age, ethnic ancestry, or location, Be The Match is committed to creating equal outcomes for all; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature designates the month of May 2019 as Bone Marrow Donation Awareness Month; and be it furtherResolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution. Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 70 CHAPTER 69 Relative to Bone Marrow Donation Awareness Month. [ Filed with Secretary of State May 31, 2019. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTACR 70, Berman. Bone Marrow Donation Awareness Month.This measure would designate the month of May 2019 as Bone Marrow Donation Awareness Month.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 70 CHAPTER 69 Relative to Bone Marrow Donation Awareness Month. [ Filed with Secretary of State May 31, 2019. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST ACR 70, Berman. Bone Marrow Donation Awareness Month. This measure would designate the month of May 2019 as Bone Marrow Donation Awareness Month. This measure would designate the month of May 2019 as Bone Marrow Donation Awareness Month. ## Digest Key ## Bill Text WHEREAS, Every three minutes, someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer or other blood disorder, which can happen to anyone at any time; and WHEREAS, Since 1987, when the United States Congress authorized the establishment of a national registry of volunteer bone marrow donors, the National Marrow Donor Program, now known as Be The Match, has facilitated more than 92,000 marrow and umbilical cord blood transplants; and WHEREAS, Seventy percent of all patients who need a bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cell, or cord blood transplant do not have a matched donor in their family and depend on the Be The Match Registry to find an unrelated donor or cord blood unit; and WHEREAS, In order to ensure that all patients have an equal chance of finding a match regardless of ethnic background, Be The Match has a specific need to increase awareness among African Americans, Latinos, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, Native Americans, and other underrepresented ethnic groups; and WHEREAS, Given the current composition of the Be The Match Registry, the likelihood of finding a match for a patient in need of a transplant ranges from 23 to 77 percent, depending on the patients ethnic background; and WHEREAS, California ranks first nationwide for patients searching for a match; and WHEREAS, The cure for blood cancer is in the hands of Californians; and WHEREAS, There is a need to enhance the understanding of how bone marrow donation delivers cures and to encourage Californians to join the Be The Match Registry; and WHEREAS, The bone marrow donor registration process only takes a few minutes and requires a simple cheek swab; and WHEREAS, There is a need to engage the public to increase diversity in the registry, with the goal of finding a matching donor for all patients to receive the transplant they need, when they need it; and WHEREAS, Although Be The Match operates the worlds largest and most diverse registry of potential bone marrow donors, including more than 20 million potential donors and 295,000 cord blood units on the Be The Match Registry, this registry is not enough; and WHEREAS, Regardless of background, socioeconomic status, age, ethnic ancestry, or location, Be The Match is committed to creating equal outcomes for all; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature designates the month of May 2019 as Bone Marrow Donation Awareness Month; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.