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