SCR 1-LUPUS AWARENESS MONTH  3:20:14 PM CHAIR KELLER announced that the next order of business would be CS FOR SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1(STA), Designating May of each year as Lupus Awareness Month. 3:20:40 PM CELESTE HODGE, Staff, Senator Bettye Davis, Alaska State Legislature, reported that proposed SCR 1 designated May as Lupus Awareness Month, and encouraged Alaskans to observe the month with appropriate activities which provided education and support for those diagnosed with the disease. She pointed out that Lupus was a disease which affected the immune system by causing inflammation and tissue damage, although there was not total understanding of the causes and consequences of the disease. She shared that Lupus can affect any body part, and can cause seizure, strokes, heart attacks, miscarriages, and organ failure. She noted that it most often strikes women of child bearing age, with women of color developing Lupus at 2-3 times the rate of Caucasians. She declared the difficulty for diagnosis as its symptoms were similar to those of other illnesses, and that the treatment could have damaging side effects. She confirmed that each May was designated as Lupus Awareness Month to show support for the 1.5 million Americans with Lupus. She stated that more than 3000 Alaskans had been diagnosed with Lupus. She declared that SCR 1 would join Alaska with other states in support of an increase for awareness to Lupus. 3:22:55 PM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, directing attention to page 2, line 8, asked to clarify the age range for Lupus. 3:23:23 PM MS. HODGE replied that age 10 was more accurate. 3:24:08 PM REPRESENTATIVE MILLETT asked about treatments for Lupus. 3:24:24 PM MS. HODGE replied that a representative from the Lupus Foundation of America would explain the specific treatments. 3:24:44 PM CHAIR KELLER opened public testimony. 3:24:52 PM ANNA TILLMAN, Executive Director, Lupus Foundation of America, Alaska Chapter, stated that Lupus was a breakdown of the immune system, not allowing the body to fight against viruses, bacteria, and germs. She stated that Lupus was not contagious, that 90 percent of those with Lupus were females, and that it was unpredictable, and potentially fatal. Although the cause was still unknown, she listed some factors that could trigger the genes prone to the disease, including infection, ultraviolet light, extreme stress, certain prescription drugs, and hormones. She described some of the different types of lupus, including cutaneous Lupus, drug induced Lupus, and the most common, systemic Lupus, which affected the internal organs. She listed people of color as being affected more than twice as often than Caucasians, with more than 5 percent of offspring of Lupus suffers also having Lupus. She noted that currently there was no generic screening test to determine the development of Lupus, adding that it would often take 3-5 years to diagnose, as the symptoms could come and go over time. She stated that there was no single laboratory test to determine Lupus, and that it could often strike between 15 and 44 years of age. She reported that the average annual cost to a person with Lupus was $12,643, and that successful treatment often required a combination of medications. She noted that fatigue was a symptom in almost 80 percent of cases. She detailed some of the medications to include: steroids, an anti-malarial, and non-steroidal anti- inflammatories. She stated that it had taken almost 21 years for her diagnosis, and that she had permanent damage from Lupus. 3:30:06 PM CHAIR KELLER asked for the number of cases in Alaska. MS. TILLMAN replied that it was estimated to be about 3,000. In response to Chair Keller, she agreed that the age range for affliction, 10-87 years, was accurate. 3:31:29 PM SARA CHANG, Government Relations, Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., National Office, shared that raising awareness was one of the largest priorities for the Lupus Foundation. She stated that almost 1.5 million Americans, about 1 in 181 people, had some form of Lupus, and almost 90 percent were women. She reported that Lupus could strike without warning, had unpredictable effects, and had no known cause or cure, making it difficult to diagnose. She shared that the average time for diagnosis was four years. She declared that SCR 1 would be beneficial for Alaskan education and awareness to the effects of Lupus. She stated that the direct and indirect cost to America from Lupus was about $31 billion. 3:35:12 PM CHAIR KELLER closed public testimony. 3:35:47 PM REPRESENTATIVE DICK moved to report CSSCR 1(STA) out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSSCR 1(STA) was reported from the House Health and Social Services Standing Committee.