Senate approves Dahl’s RSDS awareness legislation

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Senate on Tuesday, May 19 approved legislation sponsored by State Sen. Gary Dahl (R-Granville) that seeks to raise public awareness of a painful neurological disorder. House Bill 9, which passed without opposition, targets Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSDS), a chronic syndrome characterized by severe burning pain, changes to bone and skin, tissue swelling and extreme sensitivity to touch that, if untreated, results in permanent deformity and severe pain.

If it becomes law, the legislation would create an educational program to raise public awareness of RSDS which focuses on the nature and possible causes of the syndrome, the risk factors that may contribute to its development, various treatment options, and the availability of treatment and support services.

Dahl took the legislative lead in advancing the measure at the request of Bea Danko, a Streator resident who lives with RSDS. The Senator met Danko at an RSDS support group meeting in 2008, and agreed to sponsor legislation to promote awareness of the syndrome stressing the importance of early detection, diagnosis and treatment.

“Bea deserves enormous credit in moving this bill forward,” Dahl said. “When similar legislation I sponsored last year got bogged down due to political games, she kept the pressure on lawmakers to do the right thing. It was an honor to work with her in getting this legislation passed.”

The legislation is subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, though it would allow state government to accept private gifts, grants and donations to help pay for the program. The measure now heads to the House for its final approval.    

Source

May 21, 2009