2023 -- S 0848
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LC002704
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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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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING MARCH OF 2023, TO BE "BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS M ONTH" IN
THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Senator Joshua Miller
Date Introduced: March 30, 2023
Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration
1
WHEREAS, The Brain Injury Association of Rhode Island has identified that more than 2
12,000 residents of Rhode Island will sustain a traumatic brain injury this year; and 3
WHEREAS, The Brain Injury Association of America has identified brain injury as the 4
leading cause of death and disability among children and young adults in this country; and 5
WHEREAS, Brain injury is an extremely costly public health issue in the State of Rhode 6
Island; and 7
WHEREAS, Advances in medical technology have enabled many persons with severe 8
brain injury to survive these injuries; and 9
WHEREAS, Persons with brain injury may need specialized rehabilitation programs and 10
other services to meet specific needs to live life to maximum potential; and 11
WHEREAS, Most forms of insurance, public and private, that are available to persons 12
with brain injuries may not cover the rehabilitative and long-term care needs of these individuals; 13
and 14
WHEREAS, People with brain injury and their families too often must choose financial 15
hardship or discontinuing critical treatment and services due to the substantial long-term costs; 16
and 17
WHEREAS, Without specialized community services, people with brain injury may 18
become inappropriately institutionalized; and 19
LC002704 - Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS, Providing treatment methods and services to people with brain injury must 1
be a priority for the State of Rhode Island; and 2
WHEREAS, Thousands of Rhode Islanders are affected by diseases of the brain, and 3
brain injuries both acquired and traumatic including concussion, brain cancer, epilepsy, and other 4
neurological disorders; now, therefore be it 5
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims March of 6
2023, to be "Brain Injury Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode Island. We furthermore 7
encourage all Rhode Islanders to observe Brain Injury Awareness Month and participate in the 8
month-long planned activities highlighting the wonders of the brain; and be it 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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LC002704
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