ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 44

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE

District 37 (Bergen)

Assemblyman  NICHOLAS CHIARAVALLOTI

District 31 (Hudson)

Assemblywoman  ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblymen Zwicker, A.M.Bucco, Assemblywomen Tucker, Quijano, Assemblyman Holley, Assemblywomen N.Munoz, Jones, Assemblyman Barclay, Assemblywoman Pinkin, Assemblyman Benson, Assemblywomen Murphy and Schepisi

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Designates June 4 of each year as "Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day" in New Jersey.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

  


A Joint Resolution permanently designating June 4 as "Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day" in New Jersey.

 

Whereas, Tourette Syndrome (TS) is an inherited neurological disorder, named for Georges Gilles de la Tourette, the neurologist who first described the condition; and

Whereas, TS is characterized by repetitive, involuntary physical and vocal tics that occur many times a day; and

Whereas, Tics experienced by persons with TS are classified as simple or complex. Simple tics are sudden, brief, repetitive motions or vocalizations including eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, repetitive throat clearing, or grunting sounds; and

Whereas, Complex tics are distinct, coordinated patterns of movements or sounds that include facial grimacing combined with head twisting and shoulder shrugging, jumping, repeating the words or phrases of others (echolalia), or uttering socially inappropriate words such as swearing (coprolalia); and

Whereas, TS is a diagnosis that physicians make after verifying that a patient has had both motor and vocal tics for at least one year; and

Whereas, Because physicians, unfamiliar with TS, sometimes consider common tic symptoms inconsequential, part of a developmental phase, or the result of another condition, many patients are self-diagnosed after they, their parents, or their friends read or hear about TS; and

Whereas, TS is frequently accompanied by other neurobehavioral problems that cause more impairment than the tics themselves.  These include attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, learning disabilities, and impulsivity; and

Whereas, A person with TS may also have problems with depression, anxiety, and day-to-day activities, which may or may not be directly related to the disorder; and

Whereas, Although a person with TS may experience a significant decline in motor and vocal tics in late adolescence and early adulthood, the associated neurobehavioral conditions may persist well into adulthood; and

Whereas, More than 20,000 school age children in New Jersey are suffering from TS, and there is no standard treatment or known cure for the disorder; and

Whereas, While some cases of TS are aided by medication, these medications do not completely eliminate symptoms. They often have severe side effects such as sedation, weight gain, and cognitive dulling; and

Whereas, Research on TS is being conducted across a number of medical and scientific disciplines, including genetics, neuroimaging, clinical trials, and epidemiology; and

Whereas, This research is necessary to help strengthen clinical diagnosis, improve genetic counseling, and provide clues for more effective therapies for people with TS; and 

Whereas, Raising public awareness of TS, and educating physicians, other health care professionals, and school personnel about the condition, will help to improve the quality of life of all people touched by TS and encourage the research necessary to identify the cause of TS, control its effects, and find a cure for the disorder; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    June 4 of each year is designated as "Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day" in New Jersey to raise public awareness of Tourette Syndrome (TS), educate physicians, other health care professionals, and school personnel about the condition, help improve the quality of life of all people touched by TS, and encourage the research necessary to identify the cause of TS, control its effects, and find a cure for the disorder.

 

     2.    The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation recognizing June 4 as "Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day" in New Jersey and calling upon public officials, the citizens of the State, and other interested groups to observe the day with appropriate activities and programs.

 

     3.    This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This joint resolution permanently designates June 4 as "Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day" in New Jersey to raise public awareness of Tourette Syndrome (TS), educate physicians, other health care professionals, and school personnel about the condition, help improve the quality of life of all people touched by TS, and encourage the research necessary to identify the cause of TS, control its effects, and find a cure for the disorder.