2024 -- H 8035

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LC005455

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING MARCH OF 2024, TO BE "BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH" IN

THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Kazarian, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Carson,
Donovan, Spears, Cotter, Azzinaro, and Stewart

     Date Introduced: March 07, 2024

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Brain Injury Association of Rhode Island has identified that thousands

of residents of Rhode Island will sustain a traumatic brain injury this year; and

     WHEREAS, The Brain Injury Association of America has identified brain injury as the

leading cause of death and disability among children and young adults in this country; and

     WHEREAS, Brain injury is an extremely costly public health issue in the State of Rhode

Island; and

     WHEREAS, Advances in medical technology have enabled many persons with severe

brain injury to survive these injuries; and

     WHEREAS, Persons with brain injury may need specialized rehabilitation programs and

other services to meet specific needs to live life to maximum potential; and

     WHEREAS, Most forms of insurance, public and private, that are available to persons

with brain injuries may not cover the rehabilitative and long-term care needs of these individuals;

and

     WHEREAS, People with brain injury and their families too often must choose financial

hardship or discontinuing critical treatment and services due to the substantial long-term costs;

and

     WHEREAS, Without specialized community services, people with brain injury may

become inappropriately institutionalized; and

     WHEREAS, Providing treatment methods and services to people with brain injury must

be a priority for the State of Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Thousands of Rhode Islanders are affected by diseases of the brain, and

brain injuries both acquired and traumatic including concussion, brain cancer, epilepsy, and other

neurological disorders; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

proclaims March of 2024, to be "Brain Injury Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode Island.

We furthermore encourage all Rhode Islanders to observe Brain Injury Awareness Month and

participate in the month-long planned activities highlighting the wonders of the brain; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this Resolution to Debra Sharpe, Executive Director of the Brain

Injury Association of Rhode Island.

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LC005455

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