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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Taylor

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

02/26/07

HB HJM 19

SHORT TITLE Endometriosis Awareness Month

SB

ANALYST Hanika Ortiz

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY07

FY08

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Joint Memorial 19 requests the month of March be known as “Endometriosis Awareness

Month"; and, encourages the New Mexico State Legislature to recognize the need for a cure for

endometriosis.

The memorial provides the following comments:

•

Endometriosis is a painful reproductive and immunological disease afflicting more than

seven million women and teenagers in the United States and an estimated seventy million

worldwide.

•

Studies have shown an elevated risk of certain cancers and autoimmune diseases in

endometriosis patients.

•

Endometriosis is a leading cause of female infertility and hysterectomy.

•

Endometriosis not only affects the female reproductive system, but it can also be found in

other areas of the body, including the intestines, bladder, lungs, skin and brain.

•

Endometriosis may have a debilitating impact on a woman's quality of life and her

relationships and, in some cases, may render her unable to work or care for her family.

•

Endometriosis can strike women of any socioeconomic class, age or race.

•

The cause of endometriosis is unknown, and there is currently no definitive cure.

•

Many women suffer needlessly for many years because endometriosis is very difficult to

treat and diagnose.

House Joint Memorial 19 – Page

2

•

Government-funded research has traditionally gone to other high-profile diseases, and

little effort has been made to designate appropriate funds to seek a cure for

endometriosis.

•

The endometriosis research center is a nonprofit organization founded in 1997 that

actively supports continued awareness, education and research facilitation for

endometriosis.

•

The endometriosis research center also aggressively seeks to educate legislators and the

medical community on the needs of those with endometriosis.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The memorial further resolves that the New Mexico State Legislature recognize the need for

better support of patients with endometriosis, the need for physicians to understand the disease

better, the need for more effective treatments and, ultimately, the need for a cure.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

The month of March will not be formally recognized by the New Mexico State Legislature as

“Endometriosis Awareness Month".

AHO/csd