HB1754 EngrossedLRB104 05061 BDA 15089 b

1    AN ACT concerning health.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title; references to Act. 
5    (a) This Act may be cited as the Tracking Infectious Cases 
6Knowledgeably Act.
7    (b) This Act may be referred to as the TICK Act.
 
8    Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds that 
9alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a serious and potentially 
10life-threatening allergic condition that can occur after a 
11tick bite. AGS is named for a molecule, known as alpha-gal or 
12the Galili antigen, that is found in most mammals. Symptoms of 
13AGS occur after people eat red meat or are exposed to other 
14products made from mammals. Because of this, AGS is also known 
15as the red meat allergy or tick bite meat allergy. The Centers 
16for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified AGS as 
17a growing threat to clinical and public health and has 
18identified state-level surveillance of AGS as a critical need. 
19The CDC has identified Illinois as a state with one of the 
20highest AGS prevalence rates in the nation.
 
21    Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
22    "Alpha-gal syndrome" or "AGS" means an acquired 
 
 
HB1754 Engrossed- 2 -LRB104 05061 BDA 15089 b

1delayed-type allergic reaction to a sugar molecule called 
2alpha-galactose (alpha-gal), which is typically caused by the 
3bite of an infected lone star tick and can cause serious, 
4potentially life-threatening allergic reactions to consuming 
5meat or other products containing alpha-gal.
6    "Diagnosis" means identification as having Lyme disease or 
7alpha-gal syndrome, either clinically or with laboratory 
8testing confirmation, by (1) a physician licensed to practice 
9medicine in all its branches, (2) a person otherwise permitted 
10to diagnose Lyme disease or alpha-gal syndrome by applicable 
11laws, or (3) another appropriately licensed person under the 
12supervision of or in collaboration with a physician licensed 
13to practice medicine in all its branches.
 
14    Section 15. Alpha-gal syndrome education. The Department 
15of Public Health shall provide educational materials regarding 
16alpha-gal syndrome data on its website where applicable. The 
17Department of Public Health shall undertake an awareness and 
18education campaign for community members, local health 
19departments, and medical providers on the signs and symptoms 
20of alpha-gal syndrome, including education on proper 
21procedures by which to order a test for diagnosis of alpha-gal 
22syndrome.
 
23    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
24becoming law.