Massachusetts Senate designates June 7 as Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day

The Massachusetts Senate on a voice vote passed An Act designating June 7 as Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day (Senate No. 2152), advancing the bill to be engrossed and sent to the governor for approval.

Senator Friedman, the senator from Fourth Middlesex, told colleagues the bill was prompted by a Lexington constituent, 16-year-old Owen Rosenthal, and said the designation aims to draw attention to Tourette Syndrome and related tic disorders. “The legislation before us today would designate June 7 as Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day,” Friedman said. She cited prevalence information from the Tourette Association of America and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that “1 in 50 children from 5 to 17 years old in the US have a tic disorder or TS.”

Friedman acknowledged that a day of observance will not solve all challenges experienced by people with TS but said it could reduce stigma and support acceptance. “I just can't be prouder, or more in awe of a 16 year old who has done the work of getting this through and who has put himself out there as an incredible example of leaders that we need and want in the future,” she said, thanking Owen Rosenthal and the Tourette Association of America for advocacy.

The Senate adopted an amendment presented by Senator Friedman before passing the bill to be engrossed. A required standing vote on the bill’s emergency preamble was later held; the clerk reported four members rose in the affirmative and none in the negative and the emergency preamble was adopted. Minority Leader Dr. Chaim expressed support and moved that Friedman’s remarks be printed in the Senate Journal; the motion was ordered without objection.

The bill was passed to be enacted and will be signed by the president of the Senate and laid before the governor for her approbation.