By Mr. Scibak of South Hadley, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3246) of John W. Scibak and others for the issuance of an annual proclamation by the Governor establishing the third week in September as Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week.  State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

John W. Scibak

Peter V. Kocot

Christine E. Canavan

Jennifer M. Callahan

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act to designate Mitochondrial disease awareness week.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

       Whereas, Mitochondria are the power plants in every cell of a person’s body, and create more than 90% of the energy needed by the body to sustain life and support growth; and

Whereas, Mitochondria may not function correctly due to genetic defects, damage caused by drugs or damage caused by destructive molecules called free radicals; and

Whereas, When mitochondria fail, cell injury and cell death follow, and if the process is repeated throughout the body, whole systems begin to fail; and

Whereas, Mitochondrial diseases can cause isolated symptoms like seizures, low blood counts, blindness, deafness, dementia, heart failure and progressive muscle weakness, but more often they cause failure of several organ systems in sequence; and

Whereas, Although mitochondrial diseases can affect any person at any age, many children with mitochondrial diseases die before their teenage years; and

Whereas, It is estimated that more than one in 4,000 children born in the United States each year will develop a mitochondrial disease by 10 years of age; and

Whereas, Since mitochondrial disorders mimic other diseases, it is believed that they are underdiagnosed; and 

Whereas, Currently, no cure exists, but early diagnosis can help patients and their families use proper medication and nutritional supplements to treat the disorder, improve the quality of life, and even prolong life; and

Whereas, It is appropriate that all citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts be better informed about mitochondrial diseases and their impact; and

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to provide forthwith for the annual observance of Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week,

Therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience. 

SECTION 1.   Chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2002 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 15ZZZZ inserted by chapter 2 of the acts of 2005, the following section:-

SECTION15AAAAA. The governor shall annually issue a proclamation setting apart the third full week in September as “Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week” in recognition of the number of residents of the Commonwealth affected by mitochondrial diseases, and the need for increased public awareness, research and support for victims and their families, and recommending that the week be observed in an appropriate manner by the people. 

       SECTION 3.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.