Senate Bill No. 287–Senators Wiener, Rawson, Neal, Cegavske, Mathews, Nolan and Washington

 

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AN ACT relating to public health; establishing the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program within the Health Division of the Department of Human Resources to increase public awareness of, and educate persons on, matters relating to arthritis; establishing the Advisory Committee on the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program to make certain recommendations to the Division; authorizing the receipt of gifts or grants and other sources of money to carry out the Program; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

    Whereas, Arthritis encompasses more than 100 diseases and conditions that affect joints, the surrounding tissues of joints and other connective tissues; and

    Whereas, Arthritis is one of the most common families of diseases in the United States because it affects nearly one in every six persons in the United States and will impact an estimated 60 million people, or 20 percent of the population of the United States, by the year 2020; and

    Whereas, Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States and limits the daily activities of more than 7 million persons in this nation; and

    Whereas, Arthritis has a significant impact on the quality of life for the person who suffers from the painful symptoms and disabilities associated with the disease and on that person’s family members or caregivers; and

    Whereas, The economic and social costs associated with the treatment of arthritis and its complications in the United States are estimated at approximately $125 billion per year; and

    Whereas, As the population of this state continues to increase rapidly there is a need to deliver effective programs in the State of Nevada for the prevention and reduction of pain or disability associated with arthritis; and

    Whereas, Currently a large quantity of public information and a number of national programs concerning arthritis exist, but such information and programs are inadequately delivered to the public and are insufficient in addressing the needs of certain diverse and underserved populations; and

    Whereas, The Arthritis Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials have led the development of a public health

strategy, known as the National Arthritis Action Plan, to respond to concerns relating to persons suffering from arthritis; and

    Whereas, Educating the public, the health care workforce and the communities throughout Nevada about the effects of arthritis is of great importance to the Legislature and the State of Nevada, and it would be in the public interest of all residents of this state to develop and implement programs to promote public awareness of matters relating to arthritis; now, therefore,

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

    Section 1. Chapter 439 of NRS is hereby amended by adding

thereto the provisions set forth as sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of this

act.

    Sec. 2.  1.  Within the limitations of available funding, the

Health Division shall establish the Arthritis Prevention and

Control Program to increase public knowledge and raise public

awareness relating to arthritis and to educate persons with

arthritis, their families, health care professionals, providers of

health care and the public on matters relating to arthritis,

including, without limitation:

    (a) The causes and nature of arthritis;

    (b) The factors that increase the risk of a person developing

arthritis and the importance of early diagnosis of arthritis;

    (c) The appropriate treatment of arthritis;

    (d) Effective strategies to prevent or delay the development of

arthritis;

    (e) The prevention and management of pain caused by

arthritis; and

    (f) Effective interventions to reduce disability and improve the

quality of life of persons with arthritis.

    2.  The Arthritis Prevention and Control Program must be

established in accordance with the objectives set forth in the

National Arthritis Action Plan established by the Arthritis

Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and

the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

    Sec. 3.  1.  Within the limitations of available funding, the

Health Division shall establish the Advisory Committee on the

Arthritis Prevention and Control Program established pursuant to

section 2 of this act to make recommendations to the Health

Division concerning the Arthritis Prevention and Control

Program.

    2.  The Administrator shall:

    (a) Solicit recommendations for the appointment of members

to the Advisory Committee on the Arthritis Prevention and Control

Program from organizations that are representative of a broad

range of persons with arthritis and organizations interested in the

issues affecting persons with arthritis; and

    (b) Appoint to the Advisory Committee such members as he

deems appropriate, including, without limitation, one or more

persons who are representative of:

        (1) Persons with arthritis;

        (2) Public health care professionals and educators;

        (3) Medical experts on arthritis;

        (4) Providers of health care who provide services related to

arthritis;

        (5) Persons knowledgeable in promoting and educating the

public on health issues; and

        (6) National arthritis and other public health organizations

and their local or state chapters.

    3.  After the initial term, the term of each member is 2 years.

A member may be reappointed.

    4.  Members of the Advisory Committee serve without

compensation, except that each member is entitled, while engaged

in the business of the Advisory Committee and within the

limitations of available funding, to the per diem allowance and

travel expenses provided for state officers and employees

generally.

    5.  A majority of the members of the Advisory Committee

constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business, and a

majority of a quorum present at any meeting is sufficient for any

official action taken by the Advisory Committee.

    6.  The Advisory Committee shall:

    (a) At its first meeting and annually thereafter, elect a Chair

from among its members; and

    (b) Meet at the call of the Administrator, the Chair or a

majority of its members quarterly or as is necessary, within the

budget of the Advisory Committee, to provide the Administrator

with appropriate assistance to carry out the Arthritis Prevention

and Control Program.

    Sec. 4.  To carry out the purposes of the Arthritis Prevention

and Control Program established pursuant to section 2 of this act,

the Health Division shall, within the limitations of available

funding:

    1.  Establish a solid scientific database of the most current

information on the prevention of arthritis and related disabilities

using information obtained through surveillance, epidemiology

and research relating to the prevention of arthritis, and use the

database in carrying out the Program;

    2.  Provide educational materials and information on research

concerning matters relating to arthritis to persons with arthritis,

their families, health care professionals, providers of health care

and the public, including, without limitation, materials and

information concerning programs and services available to the

public and strategies for the prevention and control of arthritis;

    3.  Identify and use educational and training resources and

services developed by organizations with appropriate expertise in

and knowledge of arthritis, including, without limitation, any

available technical assistance;

    4.  Increase awareness about the prevention, detection and

treatment of arthritis among state and local governmental officials

who are responsible for matters relating to public health, health

care professionals, providers of health care and policymakers;

    5.  Coordinate state and local programs and services to reduce

the public health burdens that result from arthritis;

    6.  Work to improve the quality of life of persons with arthritis

and their families while containing the costs of health care

services by providing lasting improvements in the delivery of

health care services to persons with arthritis;

    7.  Work with other governmental agencies, national health

organizations and their local and state chapters, community and

business leaders, community organizations and providers of health

care and other persons who provide services to persons with

arthritis to:

    (a) Coordinate the work of the Program with the work of these

agencies, organizations and persons; and

    (b) Maximize the resources of state and local governments in

the efforts toward educating the public about arthritis, including,

without limitation, preventing, detecting, managing the pain

caused by, and treating arthritis;

    8.  Provide sufficient staff from the Health Division and

provide the appropriate training and education for the staff to

administer the Program;

    9.  Evaluate the need to improve the quality and accessibility

of arthritis services that exist in communities in this state; and

    10.  Conduct an assessment of the services provided for

persons with arthritis in this state and the public awareness in this

state of issues concerning arthritis, including, without limitation:

    (a) Any epidemiological and other research concerning

arthritis being conducted in this state;

    (b) Any available technical assistance and educational

materials and programs concerning arthritis that are available

nationwide or within this state;

    (c) The level of public awareness and awareness of health care

professionals and providers of health care concerning the

prevention, detection and treatment of arthritis;

    (d) The needs of persons with arthritis and their families or

caregivers;

    (e) The educational and other needs of providers of health

care who provide services to persons with arthritis;

    (f) The services and education available to persons with

arthritis, including, without limitation, services for the treatment

and management of arthritis;

    (g) Any program or services that improve the quality of life,

lower health care costs and expand the physical capabilities of

those affected by arthritis; and

    (h) The existence of services for the rehabilitation of persons

with arthritis.

    Sec. 5.  1.  The Health Division may:

    (a) Within the limitations of available funding, enter into

contracts for any services necessary to carry out or assist the

Health Division in carrying out sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of this

act, with public or private entities that have the appropriate

expertise to provide such services;

    (b) Apply for and accept any gift, donation, bequest, grant or

other source of money to carry out the provisions of sections 2 to

5, inclusive, of this act; and

    (c) Apply for any waiver from the Federal Government that

may be necessary to maximize the amount of money this state may

obtain from the Federal Government to carry out the provisions of

sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of this act.

    2.  Any money that is appropriated to carry out the provisions

of sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of this act:

    (a) Must be deposited in the State Treasury and accounted for

separately in the State General Fund; and

    (b) May only be used to carry out those provisions.

    3.  The Administrator shall administer the account. Any

interest or income earned on the money in the account must be

credited to the account. Any claims against the account must be

paid as other claims against the State are paid.

    Sec. 6.  As soon as practicable after the Health Division of the

Department of Human Resources establishes the Advisory

Committee on the Arthritis Prevention and Control Program

pursuant to section 3 of this act, the Administrator of the Health

Division shall appoint to the Advisory Committee:

    1.  To the extent feasible, half of its members to serve initial

terms of 2 years; and

    2.  The remainder of its members to serve initial terms of 4

years.

    Sec. 7.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2003.

 

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