093_HB3879
LRB093 13521 MKM 18858 b
1 AN ACT concerning public health.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Department of Public Health Powers and
5 Duties Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is
6 amended by adding Sections 2310-257 and 2310-258 as follows:
7 (20 ILCS 2310/2310-257 new)
8 Sec. 2310-257. Crohn's disease education and outreach.
9 (a) The Illinois General Assembly finds and declares the
10 following:
11 (1) Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel
12 disease characterized by severe digestive afflictions
13 that cause impairing symptoms, necessitate long-term
14 dependence on powerful drugs, and can result in
15 debilitating surgery and even death.
16 (2) Crohn's disease affects both adults and
17 children, affects men and women equally, and about 20% of
18 people with Crohn's disease have a blood relative with
19 some form of inflammatory bowel disease.
20 (3) Crohn's disease is difficult to diagnose
21 because its symptoms are similar to other intestinal
22 disorders.
23 (4) There is no cure for Crohn's disease, so
24 treatment focuses on controlling inflammation, correcting
25 nutritional deficiencies, and alleviating painful and
26 debilitating symptoms.
27 (b) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall
28 conduct an education and awareness campaign, in addition to
29 its overall effort to prevent infectious disease in Illinois,
30 in order to raise awareness about and promote screening for
31 and treatment of Crohn's disease.
-2- LRB093 13521 MKM 18858 b
1 (20 ILCS 2310/2310-258 new)
2 Sec. 2310-258. Ulcerative colitis education and
3 outreach.
4 (a) The Illinois General Assembly finds and declares the
5 following:
6 (1) Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory
7 bowel disease characterized by severe digestive
8 afflictions that cause impairing symptoms that may
9 require hospitalization.
10 (2) The cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown, and
11 it can be difficult to diagnose due to its similarity to
12 other intestinal disorders.
13 (3) Ulcerative colitis most often occurs in
14 individuals between the ages of 15 and 30, affects men
15 and women equally, may run in families, and may also
16 result in an increased risk for colon cancer.
17 (4) Treatment for ulcerative colitis includes drug
18 therapy, nutritional therapy, and, in severe cases,
19 debilitating surgery.
20 (b) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall
21 conduct an education and awareness campaign, in addition to
22 its overall effort to prevent infectious disease in Illinois,
23 in order to raise awareness about and promote screening for
24 and treatment of ulcerative colitis.