SCR 124: Transportation access: persons with epilepsy.

WHEREAS, Epilepsy is a neurological condition affecting thousands of working age adults and adolescents in California, the majority of whom are employable and seeking financial independence; and

WHEREAS, Individuals living with epilepsy may experience uncontrolled seizures that impair their ability to safely operate a vehicle, significantly limiting their access to employment opportunities, particularly in suburban and rural areas where public transportation is insufficient or unavailable; and

WHEREAS, Individuals living with epilepsy who have controlled seizures may still face driving restrictions under existing state law, forcing many to depend on an unreliable and insufficient public transportation system and thereby significantly threatening their ability to maintain employment; and

WHEREAS, Research indicates that, largely due to transportation barriers, adults with epilepsy experience unemployment rates more than five times higher than those without epilepsy or those who may suffer from other chronic conditions; and

WHEREAS, The lack of reliable and accessible public transportation for individuals living with epilepsy directly affects their ability to gain and maintain employment, thus severely limiting their financial stability and contributions to the economy; and

WHEREAS, Ireland has successfully implemented policies to improve transportation access for individuals living with epilepsy, demonstrating a feasible model for ensuring mobility and workforce participation; and

WHEREAS, The establishment of the Congressional Epilepsy Caucus in Washington, D.C. provides an opportunity to elevate this issue to a national level, ensuring broader recognition and support for transportation accessibility for adults with epilepsy; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California recognizes transportation access as a critical determinant of employment, independence, and economic participation for adults living with epilepsy, particularly those subject to medically necessary driving restrictions, and urges future legislative action to address persistent transportation barriers that disproportionately affect working age adults with epilepsy, especially in suburban and rural regions; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages relevant stakeholders to evaluate existing transportation programs, develop policy options, and consider pilot initiatives that improve reliable, affordable, and accessible transportation for individuals with epilepsy, with the goals of reducing unemployment, strengthening workforce participation, and promoting economic self-sufficiency; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature encourages coordination with federal partners, including the United States Congress and the Congressional Epilepsy Caucus, and welcomes the participation of advocacy organizations in informing and advancing complementary state-federal strategies, while affirming that the responsibility for policy leadership and action rests with elected legislative bodies; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.