SECOND REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 1358

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES PORTWOOD (Sponsor), LEMBKE, YAEGER, ROORDA, AVERY, MAY, BEAN, MUSCHANY, WRIGHT (137), SATER, WILDBERGER, SCHAAF, WILSON (119), WRIGHT (159) AND CURLS (Co-sponsors).

                  Read 1st time January 11, 2006 and copies ordered printed.

STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk

4197L.01I

AN ACT

To amend chapter 9, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the designation of hepatitis awareness day.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

            Section A. Chapter 9, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 9.158, to read as follows:

            9.158. 1. The governor shall annually issue a proclamation setting apart the tenth day of May as "Hepatitis C Awareness Day", and recommending to the people of the state that the day be appropriately observed through activities which will increase hepatitis C awareness, education, tolerance, and understanding.

            2. Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and spread by contact with the blood of an infected person. As the third highest reported virus in Missouri, hepatitis C acts as the silent killer of many persons because they are unaware they are infected with HCV, which is asymptomatic until advanced liver damage develops. Since no vaccine for hepatitis C currently exists, the only way to prevent the disease is to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus through information and education.

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