96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB1752

 

Introduced 2/19/2009, by Sen. Donne E. Trotter - William Delgado - Mattie Hunter

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Parkinson's Disease Public Awareness and Education Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health, subject to appropriation, shall establish a Parkinson's disease public awareness and education program to promote public awareness of Parkinson's disease and the value of early detection and possible treatments, including the benefits and risks of those treatments. Provides that the program shall include the following: (1) development of a public education and outreach campaign to promote Parkinson's disease awareness and education; (2) development of educational materials to be made available to consumers through local health departments, physicians, hospitals, and clinics; and (3) development and maintenance of a list of current providers of specialized services for the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1     AN ACT concerning health.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5 Parkinson's Disease Public Awareness and Education Act.
 
6     Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds and
7 declares that:
8         (1) Parkinson's disease is a debilitating, painful and
9     incurable neurological disorder of unknown origin that
10     disrupts and can end the lives of those who suffer from it.
11         (2) Parkinson's disease causes diverse symptoms,
12     including rigidity, slowness of movement, poor balance and
13     tremors, which lead to an impaired ability to walk, speak,
14     swallow and even breathe, so that the end result can be a
15     clear mind trapped inside a body that has lost its ability
16     to function.
17         (3) The visible symptoms of Parkinson's disease are
18     often mistaken to be a normal part of the aging process.
19         (4) In addition, many people with the disease encounter
20     precarious legal and personal situations in which they are
21     erroneously thought to be under the influence of illegal or
22     prescription drugs or alcohol due to their movement and
23     gait patterns.

 

 

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1         (5) Parkinson's disease takes an enormous emotional,
2     psychological and physical toll on caregivers and
3     families, overwhelming their lives.
4         (6) It has been estimated that 1.5 million Americans
5     have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, 50,000 more
6     are diagnosed nationally each year, and another 1.5 million
7     persons have the disease but have never seen a neurologist.
8         (7) Parkinson's disease requires the expenditure of
9     some $25 billion per year, including medical treatments,
10     disability payments and lost productivity.
11         (8) Medications can only control some of the symptoms
12     of the disease and only for uncertain periods of time.
13         (9) Increased public awareness and education are
14     needed among health care, social services, judicial, law
15     enforcement and emergency medical services personnel in
16     order to better respond to the needs of Parkinson's disease
17     patients, their caregivers and families.
 
18     Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
19     "Department" means the Department of Public Health.
20     "Program" means the Parkinson's disease public awareness
21 and education program established pursuant to this Act.
 
22     Section 15. Program established. Subject to appropriation,
23 the Department shall establish a Parkinson's disease public
24 awareness and education program. The purpose of the program

 

 

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1 shall be to promote public awareness of Parkinson's disease and
2 the value of early detection and possible treatments, including
3 the benefits and risks of those treatments. The Department may
4 accept, for that purpose, any special grant of moneys,
5 services, or property from the federal government or any of its
6 agencies, or from any foundation, organization, or medical
7 school.
 
8     Section 20. Program contents. The program shall include the
9 following:
10         (1) Development of a public education and outreach
11     campaign to promote Parkinson's disease awareness and
12     education, including, but not limited to, the following
13     subjects:
14             (A) The cause and nature of the disease.
15             (B) Diagnostic procedures and appropriate
16         indications for their use.
17             (C) Lifestyle issues relating to how a person copes
18         with Parkinson's disease, including, but not limited
19         to, nutrition, diet, and physical exercise.
20             (D) Environmental safety and injury prevention.
21             (E) Availability of Parkinson's disease diagnostic
22         and treatment services in the community.
23         (2) Development of educational materials to be made
24     available to consumers through local health departments,
25     physicians, hospitals, and clinics.

 

 

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1         (3) Development and maintenance of a list of current
2     providers of specialized services for the diagnosis and
3     treatment of Parkinson's disease.