1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 461 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 1-4 recognize March 23, 1999, as Epilepsy Day in Texas; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Epilepsy affects approximately 193,000 people in 1-6 Texas, and the number of Texans affected is expected to grow to 1-7 203,433 by the year 2000; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Epilepsy primarily affects young adults and children, 1-9 and over 50 percent of people with epilepsy develop the disease 1-10 before the age of 25; and 1-11 WHEREAS, The health of our citizens is a major concern and 1-12 responsibility of health care professionals serving the residents 1-13 of Texas; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Among the many different faces of the illness which 1-15 present the most difficulty for epilepsy sufferers is the negative 1-16 public opinion which the general population has toward the disease; 1-17 and 1-18 WHEREAS, Other difficulties facing those with epilepsy are 1-19 discrimination in employment, insurance, and education; people with 1-20 the illness may be required to accept jobs which do not reflect 1-21 their training and educational level; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Texans with epilepsy have access to services from 1-23 the state-sponsored Texas Department of Health Epilepsy Program, 1-24 provided eligibility requirements are met, and other epilepsy 2-1 programs or associations; and 2-2 WHEREAS, After in-depth study of the problems facing those 2-3 with epilepsy, several partial solutions may be considered: 2-4 develop new and more funding for services; direct more effort 2-5 toward finding better employment; direct more efforts toward 2-6 public education; and guide further improvements toward 2-7 transportation services, including transportation to and from 2-8 medical appointments and jobs; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Progress in these areas could go a long way 2-10 toward reducing the impact that epilepsy has on the lives of tens 2-11 of thousands of Texans; now, therefore, be it 2-12 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-13 76th Legislature, hereby proclaim March 23, 1999, as Epilepsy Day 2-14 in Texas and hope for greater progress in fighting the illness and 2-15 its effect by educating the public toward greater understanding; 2-16 and, be it further 2-17 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as a 2-18 memento of this day. 2-19 Madla 2-20 ______________________________________ 2-21 President of the Senate 2-22 I hereby certify that the above 2-23 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-24 on March 22, 1999. 2-25 ______________________________________ 2-26 Secretary of the Senate 2-27 ______________________________________ 2-28 Member, Texas Senate