| R 215 |
| 2023 -- S 0848 Enacted 03/30/2023 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| PROCLAIMING MARCH OF 2023, TO BE "BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Senators Miller, Raptakis, F. Lombardi, DiMario, Lawson, Mack, Euer, de la Cruz, Paolino, and DeLuca |
| Date Introduced: March 30, 2023 |
| WHEREAS, The Brain Injury Association of Rhode Island has identified that more than |
| 12,000 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 Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims March of |
| 2023, 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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| LC002704 |
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