Current Status:

Passed

(2024-04-19: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 45, Statutes of 2024.)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Enacted

What does this bill do?

This resolution declares March to be Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month in California and urges governments and health providers to increase awareness and improve screening, diagnosis, and evaluation for head injuries. It notes how many people are affected and encourages anyone with a head injury or concussion to talk with their health care provider about possible lasting effects.

Version:

This measure would proclaim the month of March 2024 as Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month.

Version:

WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines traumatic brain injury as a disruption in the normal functioning of the brain due to injury, commonly caused by car accidents, falls, assault, occupational injuries, and sports injuries; and

WHEREAS, Every 14 seconds nationally, and every two minutes in California, someone sustains a traumatic brain injury; and

WHEREAS, The CDC declares traumatic brain injury is a major cause of disability and death in the United States, contributing to approximately 190 daily injury-related deaths in 2021; and

WHEREAS, Traumatic brain injury impacts 2,800,000 Americans each year and causes 69,000 deaths, 600,000 hospitalizations, and 1,400,000 emergency room visits yearly; and

WHEREAS, More than 5,300,000 children and adults in the United States, including 506,000 children and adults in California, live with a lifelong disability as a result of a traumatic brain injury, and impacts can include cognition, motor sensory, communication, emotional, and behavioral impairments as well as cause long-term neuropsychiatric conditions; and

WHEREAS, 2,800,000 Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury annually; and

WHEREAS, 2,500,000 caregivers in the United States support a family member with a traumatic brain injury; and

WHEREAS, In 2022 alone, there were 84,268 Californians hospitalized and 161,917 emergency room visits due to traumatic brain injury; and

WHEREAS, The lifetime costs related to traumatic brain injury are estimated in the United States to be $76,500,000,000 annually and in 2022, through private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid, California patients paid $1,700,000,000 for traumatic brain injury hospital services; and

WHEREAS, Traumatic brain injuries can negatively affect a persons ability to hold a job, maintain relationships, or even care for themselves and can also have a devastating effect on a persons family, social circle, and community; and

WHEREAS, Awareness, early screening, diagnosis, and care for Californians who sustain a traumatic brain injury are necessary to support lifelong health for Californians living with traumatic brain injury and their caregivers; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby proclaims the month of March to be Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month in California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature urges all levels of government to take advantage of every opportunity to increase awareness of the importance of screening, diagnosis, and evaluation for traumatic brain injury and to encourage people who have sustained a head injury or concussion to discuss the injury with their health care provider to determine if they have sustained a physical, cognitive, motor sensory, emotional, or behavioral impact or resulted in a neuropsychiatric condition; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.