093_HB3879

                                     LRB093 13521 MKM 18858 b

 1        AN ACT concerning public health.

 2        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section  5.  The  Department  of Public Health Powers and
 5    Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code  of  Illinois  is
 6    amended by adding Sections 2310-257 and 2310-258 as follows:

 7        (20 ILCS 2310/2310-257 new)
 8        Sec. 2310-257.  Crohn's disease education and outreach.
 9        (a)  The Illinois General Assembly finds and declares the
10    following:
11             (1)  Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel
12        disease  characterized  by  severe  digestive afflictions
13        that  cause  impairing  symptoms,  necessitate  long-term
14        dependence  on  powerful  drugs,  and   can   result   in
15        debilitating surgery and even death.
16             (2)  Crohn's   disease   affects   both  adults  and
17        children, affects men and women equally, and about 20% of
18        people with Crohn's disease have a  blood  relative  with
19        some form of inflammatory bowel disease.
20             (3)  Crohn's   disease   is  difficult  to  diagnose
21        because its symptoms  are  similar  to  other  intestinal
22        disorders.
23             (4)  There  is  no  cure  for  Crohn's  disease,  so
24        treatment focuses on controlling inflammation, correcting
25        nutritional  deficiencies,  and  alleviating  painful and
26        debilitating symptoms.
27        (b)  Subject  to  appropriation,  the  Department   shall
28    conduct  an  education and awareness campaign, in addition to
29    its overall effort to prevent infectious disease in Illinois,
30    in order to raise awareness about and promote  screening  for
31    and treatment of Crohn's disease.
 
                            -2-      LRB093 13521 MKM 18858 b
 1        (20 ILCS 2310/2310-258 new)
 2        Sec.    2310-258.  Ulcerative   colitis   education   and
 3    outreach.
 4        (a)  The Illinois General Assembly finds and declares the
 5    following:
 6             (1)  Ulcerative colitis is a  form  of  inflammatory
 7        bowel   disease   characterized   by   severe   digestive
 8        afflictions   that  cause  impairing  symptoms  that  may
 9        require hospitalization.
10             (2)  The cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown, and
11        it can be difficult to diagnose due to its similarity  to
12        other intestinal disorders.
13             (3)  Ulcerative   colitis   most   often  occurs  in
14        individuals between the ages of 15 and  30,  affects  men
15        and  women  equally,  may  run  in families, and may also
16        result in an increased risk for colon cancer.
17             (4)  Treatment for ulcerative colitis includes  drug
18        therapy,  nutritional  therapy,  and,  in  severe  cases,
19        debilitating surgery.
20        (b)  Subject   to  appropriation,  the  Department  shall
21    conduct an education and awareness campaign, in  addition  to
22    its overall effort to prevent infectious disease in Illinois,
23    in  order  to raise awareness about and promote screening for
24    and treatment of ulcerative colitis.