SR43 - Relative to Myositis Awareness Month.

Enrolled May 30, 2025 Passed IN Senate May 29, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Resolution No. 43 Introduced by Senator Becker May 12, 2025 Relative to Myositis Awareness Month. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SR 43, Becker. Digest Key Bill Text WHEREAS, Nearly one in 10 Americans have rare diseases, including residents of California affected by myositis; and WHEREAS, Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, collectively referred to as myositis, are rare, chronic, autoimmune muscle wasting diseases; and WHEREAS, Myositis often features debilitating muscle inflammation and other symptoms, including pain, fatigue, and trouble swallowing. Myositis can result in myositis-associated interstitial lung disease; and WHEREAS, More research is needed to identify the causes of, and modes of treatments for, the myositis group of diseases, including anti-MDA5 autoantibody positive myositis, anti-synthetase syndrome, dermatomyositis, juvenile dermatomyositis, immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, inclusion body myositis, and polymyositis; and WHEREAS, Myositis is difficult to diagnose, so treatment is often delayed, and individuals generally experience difficulty finding a health care provider with expertise in their condition; and WHEREAS, All who suffer with myositis experience reduced quality of life, especially as no cure has been found and life expectancy is shortened, especially for those with inclusion body myositis; and WHEREAS, Women and people of color with all forms of myositis experience particularly pronounced health disparities; and WHEREAS, The Myositis Association is the leading international patient advocacy organization serving the myositis community, focusing on patient services, education, research, and public awareness, so as to achieve a world without myositis; and WHEREAS, The Myositis Association is organizing a nationwide observance of Myositis Awareness Month for the month of May 2025; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate observes the month of May 2025 as Myositis Awareness Month in California, and encourages all citizens of California to come together, learn more about all the forms of myositis and its symptoms, and support the families in our community who will benefit from greater awareness of these rare diseases; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.