08 LC 35
0950
House
Resolution 1667
By:
Representative Frazier of the
123rd
A
RESOLUTION
Urging
the Georgia Department of Human Resources to adopt policies and procedures for
informing the public and, specifically, couples about to be married regarding
the need for testing for sickle cell anemia; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
Sickle cell anemia is a lethal disease caused by a recessive gene in a carrier
parent; and
WHEREAS,
children with sickle cell anemia may experience serious complications which
include fatigue, fever, difficulty breathing, excruciating pain, stroke, leg
ulcers, and premature death; and
WHEREAS,
the disease causes damage to most organs including the spleen, kidney, and liver
which also makes sickle cell disease patients, especially young children, easily
overwhelmed by bacterial infections; and
WHEREAS,
two carrier parents have a one in four chance of having a child with the
disease; and
WHEREAS,
while African Americans have the highest incidence of sickle cell disease in the
U.S., Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Indian, Greek, and Caucasian persons may also
carry the sickle cell trait or have sickle cell disease; and
WHEREAS,
there are currently 70,000 Americans with sickle cell disease and hundreds more
are diagnosed each year; and
WHEREAS,
about 2 million Americans carry the sickle cell trait and about 1 in 12 African
Americans has the trait; and
WHEREAS, despite many attempted treatments for sickle cell anemia, there is currently no universal cure for the disease; various approaches are being sought for preventing sickling episodes as well as for the complications of sickle cell disease; and
WHEREAS, despite many attempted treatments for sickle cell anemia, there is currently no universal cure for the disease; various approaches are being sought for preventing sickling episodes as well as for the complications of sickle cell disease; and
WHEREAS,
there is a tremendous need for educating people about this tragic disease and
especially the need for testing prior to pregnancy as an essential component of
preventing new cases of children with sickle cell anemia;
WHEREAS,
of Georgia´s various governmental agencies, the Georgia Department of Human
resources is best able to act responsibly and efficiently in educating the
public regarding the need for sickle cell testing and the dangers of sickle cell
anemia.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body urge the Georgia Department of Human Resources to adopt policies,
procedures, and practices which:
(1)
Establish an educational program and public awareness campaign to educate
Georgians regarding the symptoms and dangers of sickle cell anemia and the need
for couples to submit to standard serologic testing for sickle cell anemia prior
to marriage and pregnancy;
(2)
Prepare an informational brochure describing the inheritable hemoglobin type of
sickle cell anemia which may convey the sickle cell anemia trait or the sickle
cell anemia disease to the offspring of a carrier. Such brochure shall
recommend that each applicant for a marriage license obtain a standard serologic
test for sickle cell anemia prior to obtaining such license;
(3)
Provide forms to acknowledge receipt of such brochure by an applicant for a
marriage license. The brochure and form prepared by the department should be
prepared and furnished to the office of each judge of the probate court no later
than January 1, 2009;
(4)
Establish a policy for requiring that persons who apply for a marriage license
shall, at the time of application, receive from the office of the probate judge
the sickle cell brochure prepared and furnished by the department and that the
forms should be filed and maintained by the judge of the probate court for at
least three years after the date of filing.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the
Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Human Resources and to the Governor.