To enact sections 5.033, 5.091, 5.2265, 5.2266, 5.2267, 5.2268, 5.2269, 5.2270, 5.2271, 5.2272, 5.2273, 5.2274, 5.2275, 5.2276, and 3701.136 of the Revised Code to adopt the spotted salamander as the state amphibian; to adopt the children's book Lentil as the official children's book of the state and to designate its author, Robert McCloskey as the official children's book author of the state; and to designate various special days, weeks, and months.

Section 1. That sections 5.033, 5.091, 5.2265, 5.2266, 5.2267, 5.2268, 5.2269, 5.2270, 5.2271, 5.2272, 5.2273, 5.2274, 5.2275, 5.2276, and 3701.136 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 5.033. The salamander, Ambystoma maculatum, commonly known as the spotted salamander, is the official amphibian of the state.

Sec. 5.091. The children's book, Lentil, is hereby adopted as the official children's book of the state. The author of Lentil, Robert McCloskey, born in Hamilton, Ohio, is hereby designated the official children's book author of the state.

Sec. 5.2265. The thirtieth day of April is designated as "Dia De Los Ninos" or "Children's Day" to recognize children as Ohio's future, center, and priority, to promote the importance of linking children to books, languages, and culture, and to honor the Latin American tradition of celebrating this day.

Sec. 5.2266. The month of January is designated as "Ohio Mentor Month."

Sec. 5.2267. The twenty-ninth day of March is designated as "Vietnam War Veterans' Day" in honor of those who fought, died, or are still unaccounted for in the Vietnam war.

Sec. 5.2268. The month of March is designated as "Macular Degeneration Awareness Month."

Sec. 5.2269. The month of April is designated as "Community Theater Month."

Sec. 5.2270.  The month of May is designated as "ALS Awareness Month." ALS is an acronym for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a disease that is commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease and that attacks the nerves and causes degeneration in muscle control and movement.

Sec. 5.2271. The last week of May is designated as "Ohio Turfgrass Week."

Sec. 5.2272.  (A) The month of June is designated as "Father's Month" to increase public awareness of the critical role of fathers and to pay tribute to them.

(B) Good fathering during infancy, childhood, and adolescence contributes to the development of emotional security and has overwhelmingly positive psychological and economic benefits for children, families, communities, this state, and this nation. This nation is becoming increasingly aware that when a father is actively involved in the life of his child, the child will have higher self-esteem and healthier social skills, and show decreased high-risk behavior, teen pregnancy, and drug and alcohol abuse. All fathers in this state and this nation must reinvest in supplying emotional and financial support for their children and society must promote involved, nurturing, and responsible fatherhood.

Sec. 5.2273. The second Thursday in July is designated as "Ohio Summer Learning Day" to promote the importance of learning throughout the summer, in recognition of the vital importance that summer learning plays in a child's educational success.

Sec. 5.2274. The month of September is designated as "Mesothelioma Month" to bring attention to mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that develops in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs, and is commonly linked to asbestos exposure.

Sec. 5.2275.  The month of November is designated as "Ohio Adoption Month" to honor adoptive families, increase public awareness of adoption, and promote activities and efforts to find permanent homes for waiting children of all ages and races.

Sec. 5.2276. The month of November is designated as "Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Awareness Month" to promote public awareness of complex regional pain syndrome, also known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome.

Sec. 3701.136.  (A) As used in this section, "complex regional pain syndrome" or "CRPS," also known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, means a debilitating and progressively chronic syndrome characterized by severe burning pain, pathological changes in bone and skin, excessive sweating, tissue swelling, and extreme sensitivity to touch.

(B) The department of health shall include information on its web site to promote complex regional pain syndrome education in a manner that enables individuals to make informed decisions about their health. The information on the web site shall include all of the following:

(1) The cause and nature of CRPS;

(2) The risk factors that contribute to the manifestation of CRPS;

(3) Available treatment options, including the risks and benefits of those options;

(4) Information on environmental safety and injury prevention;

(5) Information on rest and the use of appropriate body mechanics;

(6) Information on the availability of CRPS diagnostic, treatment, and outreach services;

(7) Information concerning any other factors or elements that might mitigate the effects of CRPS.

(C) The department shall notify boards of health, hospitals, clinics, and other health care providers about the availability of information concerning CRPS on the department's web site.

Section 2. Section 3701.136 of the Revised Code, as enacted by this act, shall take effect ninety days after the effective date of this act.

Section 3. (A) As used in this section, "complex regional pain syndrome" or "CRPS" has the same meaning as in section 3701.136 of the Revised Code.

(B) The General Assembly finds and declares all of the following with respect to complex regional pain syndrome:

(1) CRPS occurs in five per cent of all cases of nerve injuries.

(2) CRPS is thought to be a neuropathic pain syndrome that generally occurs at the site of a minor or major trauma injury, but may also occur without an apparent injury.

(3) While the cause of CRPS is unknown, the syndrome is thought to be the result of damaged nerves of the sympathetic nervous system.

(4) The syndrome is unique in that it simultaneously affects the nerves, skin, muscles, blood vessels, and bones, and if untreated, can result in permanent disability and chronic pain.

(5) CRPS is often misdiagnosed because the syndrome is either unknown or poorly understood. The prognosis for patients suffering from CRPS is generally much better when CRPS is identified and treated as early as possible.

(6) If treatment is delayed CRPS can quickly spread to an entire limb and changes in bone and muscle may become irreversible, resulting in limited mobility, atrophy of the muscles, and eventual permanent disability.

(7) Since a delay in the diagnosis or treatment of CRPS can result in severe physical and physiological problems, and early recognition and prompt treatment of CRPS provides the greatest opportunity for recovery, it is in the best interest of the public to require the Department of Health to include information on its web site pursuant to section 3701.136 of the Revised Code to educate both individuals and medical professionals regarding this debilitative condition.