EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

1-1 Whereas, The residents of the State of Nevada are its most precious

1-2 resource, and all Nevadans are an integral part of the communities of this

1-3 state and make a valuable contribution to society as a whole; and

1-4 Whereas, Nevada ranks 17th in the nation in reported cases of acquired

1-5 immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS); and

1-6 Whereas, Young persons under the age of 25 years represent one-half

1-7 of all new infections from exposure to the human immunodeficiency virus

1-8 (HIV) in the United States; and

1-9 Whereas, The future of this state lies in its young residents, and the

1-10 benefit of having young Nevadans continue in the work force with

1-11 additional years of earning potential and other sociological contributions is

1-12 incalculable; and

2-1 Whereas, Among persons between the ages of 25 and 44 years,

2-2 HIV/AIDS is the second leading cause of death; and

2-3 Whereas, In 1997, there were 8,086 children under the age of 13 years

2-4 infected; and

2-5 Whereas, Women now account for 16 percent of all cases of AIDS;

2-6 and

2-7 Whereas, Female adolescents and young women under the age of 25

2-8 years are at an even higher risk for HIV infection; and

2-9 Whereas, At the end of 1997, Nevada had the highest incidence of

2-10 AIDS in the western states for both men and women, even higher than the

2-11 rate of incidence in California; and

2-12 Whereas, In 1997 and 1998, deaths in Nevada attributed to AIDS

2-13 declined primarily because of the heroic efforts of scientists, health care

2-14 professionals and persons living with HIV/AIDS; and

2-15 Whereas, Patients respond best to therapy early in the course of their

2-16 HIV infection when they are still healthy and able to work; and

2-17 Whereas, Research related to AIDS has resulted in new treatments that

2-18 are prolonging the lives of many Nevadans living with the disease, and

2-19 although the cost of such drug therapy is high, these dollars are more than

2-20 compensated for by shorter hospital stays and decreased outpatient care

2-21 costs; and

2-22 Whereas, The AIDS epidemic is far from over, with new infections in

2-23 Nevada every year, and in the absence of a cure or vaccine, education is the

2-24 only defense against this disease; and

2-25 Whereas, The observance of HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is an

2-26 opportunity to enhance tolerance, increase compassion and promote

2-27 understanding of persons infected with HIV/AIDS while communicating

2-28 information about the prevention of this epidemic; now, therefore, be it

2-29 Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate

2-30 Concurring, That the members of the 70th session of the Nevada

2-31 Legislature do hereby designate March 24, 1999, as HIV/AIDS Awareness

2-32 Day in the State of Nevada; and be it further

2-33 Resolved, That the Nevada Legislature recognizes the debilitating

2-34 effects of HIV/AIDS on the residents of Nevada and their families and

2-35 supports the efforts of those local, state and community-based agencies that

2-36 are endeavoring to reduce the occurrences of HIV/AIDS among Nevadans.