2023 -- H 6228
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LC002629
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING MARCH OF 2023, TO BE "BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONT H" IN
THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Representatives Donovan, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Ajello,
Fenton-Fung, Edwards, Diaz, Cortvriend, and Bennett
Date Introduced: March 29, 2023
Referred To: House read and passed
WHEREAS, The Brain Injury Association of Rhode Island has identified that more than 1
12,000 residents of Rhode Island will sustain a traumatic brain injury this year; and 2
WHEREAS, The Brain Injury Association of America has identified brain injury as the 3
leading cause of death and disability among children and young adults in this country; and 4
WHEREAS, Brain injury is an extremely costly public health issue in the State of Rhode 5
Island; and 6
WHEREAS, Advances in medical technology have enabled many persons with severe 7
brain injury to survive these injuries; and 8
WHEREAS, Persons with brain injury may need specialized rehabilitation programs and 9
other services to meet specific needs to live life to maximum potential; and 10
WHEREAS, Most forms of insurance, public and private, that are available to persons 11
with brain injuries may not cover the rehabilitative and long-term care needs of these individuals; 12
and 13
WHEREAS, People with brain injury and their families too often must choose financial 14
hardship or discontinuing critical treatment and services due to the substantial long-term costs; 15
and 16
WHEREAS, Without specialized community services, people with brain injury may 17
become inappropriately institutionalized; and 18
WHEREAS, Providing treatment methods and services to people with brain injury must 19
LC002629 - Page 2 of 2
be a priority for the State of Rhode Island; and 1
WHEREAS, Thousands of Rhode Islanders are affected by diseases of the brain, and 2
brain injuries both acquired and traumatic including concussion, brain cancer, epilepsy, and other 3
neurological disorders; now, therefore be it 4
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 5
proclaims March of 2023, to be "Brain Injury Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode Island. 6
We furthermore encourage all Rhode Islanders to observe Brain Injury Awareness Month and 7
participate in the month-long planned activities highlighting the wonders of the brain; and be it 8
further 9
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 10
transmit a duly certified copy of this Resolution to Debra Sharpe, Executive Director of the Brain 11
Injury Association of Rhode Island. 12
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LC002629
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