GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2013

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 220

Short Title:        Designate NC Fragile X Awareness Day.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representatives Fulghum, Holley, Insko, and Dollar (Primary Sponsors). For a complete list of Sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly Web Site.
Referred to:	Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.

March 6, 2013

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT designating july twenty-second of each year as North Carolina fragile x awareness day.

Whereas, Fragile X syndrome is a genetic condition that causes intellectual disability, behavioral and learning challenges, and various physical features; and

Whereas, although Fragile X syndrome occurs in both genders, males are more frequently affected than females and generally with greater severity; and

Whereas, over 100,000 people in the United States have Fragile X syndrome and an estimated 1,000,000 people in the United States carry a Fragile X mutation and have or are at risk of developing a Fragile X-associated disorder; and

Whereas, approximately one-third of all children with Fragile X syndrome also have autism or an autism spectrum disorder; and

Whereas, although the genetic defect that causes Fragile X is easily identified by testing, there is a lack of awareness about the disease, even within the medical community; and

Whereas, special care for an individual with Fragile X syndrome can cost over $2,000,000; and

Whereas, Fragile X research, both basic and applied, has the potential for the development of a cure and may be a model for neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism, schizophrenia, pervasive developmental disorders, and other forms of X-linked intellectual disability; and

Whereas, several states have established a Fragile X Awareness Day to help raise public awareness of this genetic disorder; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Chapter 103 of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new section to read:

"§ 103-12.  Fragile X Awareness Day.

The twenty-second of July of each year is designated as North Carolina Fragile X Awareness Day."

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.