H.B. 379*

126th General Assembly

(As Reported by H. State Government)

Reps. Yuko, DeGeeter, Hughes, Trakas, Harwood, Sykes, DeBose, Redfern, Brown, Williams, Otterman, Mason, Oelslager, S. Smith, Driehaus, D. Stewart, S. Patton, Wolpert, Barrett, Domenick, Fende, Garrison, Strahorn, Willamowski, Faber, Schaffer, Chandler, Flowers, C. Evans, Yates, Reidelbach, Hartnett, Combs, Dolan, J. McGregor, Carano, Skindell, Boccieri, Miller, Healy, Gilb, Perry, Wagoner, Beatty, Cassell, Ujvagi, Allen, Key, Latta, Bubp, Distel, Mitchell, Book, Coley, Sayre

BILL SUMMARY

· Designates March of each year as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month.

CONTENT AND OPERATION

The bill designates each March as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month to enhance understanding of the disease, including its causes and health effects, and to support and encourage education programs and research to develop effective therapies and find a cure (R.C. 5.2232). The bill also states that the General Assembly's intent in making this designation is to increase public awareness and understanding of multiple sclerosis in order to serve the thousands of Ohioans and their families affected by this disease (Section 2).

COMMENT

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease in which there is scattered destruction or damage to the myelin sheath of nerves in the central nervous system that may result in speech defects and loss of muscular coordination.

HISTORY

ACTION	DATE
Introduced	10-13-05
Reported, H. State Government	---

H0379-RH-126.doc/jc

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* This analysis was prepared before the report of the House State Government Committee appeared in the House Journal. Note that the list of co-sponsors and the legislative history may be incomplete.