(410 ILCS 413/5)
Sec. 5. Policy declaration. The General Assembly
finds that epilepsy is a devastating health condition that
afflicts 2,300,000 United States citizens, over 125,000 of
whom reside in Illinois. The General Assembly also finds
that epilepsy afflicts its victims at all ages, but is
particularly devastating to children and the elderly. It is
the opinion of the General Assembly that epilepsy can cause
serious financial, social, and emotional hardships on the
victims and their families of such a major consequence that
it is essential for the State to develop and implement
policies, plans, and programs to alleviate these
hardships. It is the intent of the General Assembly through
implementation of this Act to establish a program for the
conduct of epilepsy education, awareness, and treatment initiatives designed to address the service gaps and treatment needs of the people impacted by epilepsy. Additionally, it is the intent of the
General Assembly, through a comprehensive, statewide system of community-based services (Epilepsy Treatment and Education Program), to provide for the
identification, evaluation, diagnosis, referral, and
treatment of victims of this disease.
(Source: P.A. 94-73, eff. 6-23-05.) |