02/22/2007 03:00 PM House HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES

SCR  2-BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH: MARCH 2007                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:04:41 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WILSON announced that the first order of business would be                                                                
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 2, Relating to establishing                                                                    
March 2007 as brain injury awareness month.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
[A brief discussion regarding SSHB 100 testimony ensued.]                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:07:13 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MARIT CARLSON-VAN  DORT, Staff to  Senator Lesil  McGuire, Alaska                                                               
State  Legislature, sponsor,  explained that  this resolution  is                                                               
intended  to  draw  awareness to  traumatic  brain  injuries,  in                                                               
addition  to supporting  those  who have  suffered  from such  an                                                               
injury,  their families,  and care  providers.   Traumatic  brain                                                               
injuries  are one  of the  leading  causes of  death among  young                                                               
people in  Alaska.  She pointed  out that Alaska has  the highest                                                               
number  of traumatic  brain injuries  per capita.   An  estimated                                                               
12,000  Alaskans have  suffered from  this type  of injury.   She                                                               
then gave examples  of events that can lead to  a traumatic brain                                                               
injury.   Many  victims  of these  injuries  live with  permanent                                                               
disability.     "The  tragedy  of   traumatic  brain   injury  is                                                               
exacerbated by  the fact that  it's preventable," she said.   She                                                               
went on to  say that this type of injury  is often life-altering,                                                               
and can  place a tremendous  strain on everyone involved.   March                                                               
is  recognized [as  brain injury  awareness month]  by the  Brain                                                               
Injury Awareness Association of America.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:08:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN  inquired as to whether  March is currently                                                               
recognized as an "awareness month."                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS. CARLSON-VAN DORT replied that she is unable to answer this.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  SEATON moved  to report  SCR 2  out of  committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.   There being no  objection, SCR  2 was reported  from the                                                               
House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.