Arizona SCR 1037: right to engage in occupation

Bill Text

SCR1037 - 572R - I Ver 

 REFERENCE TITLE: world hearing day

 State of Arizona

 Senate

 Fifty-seventh Legislature

 Second Regular Session

 2026

 SCR 1037

 Introduced by 

 Senator 
 Alston: Representative Connolly

A 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

recognizing march 3, 2026 as world 
hearing day in Arizona.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Whereas, hearing plays a critical 
role in communication and personal relationships, overall health outcomes, 
psychological well-being and safety; and

Whereas, hearing loss, which is 
typically irreversible, has been tied to cognitive decline, dementia, falls, 
depression and isolation, and hearing loss can be a symptom of an underlying 
medical condition such as infection, tumor, otosclerosis and Meniere's disease; 
and 

Whereas, a study conducted by the 
Better Hearing Institute concluded that untreated hearing loss has significant 
income ramifications, including negatively impacting household income in the 
United States by up to $12,000 annually and costing $122 billion in lost 
earnings; and 

Whereas, noise-induced hearing loss 
is a preventable and significant, though often unrecognized, health problem 
among American adults and is a growing problem with adolescents due to 
overamplification of personal listening devices; and

Whereas, according to the National 
Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), more than 37 
million American adults, or 15%, report some trouble hearing, and about 28.2 
million adults in the United States could benefit from using hearing aids; and

Whereas, according to the NIDCD, 
fewer than 30% of adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss and 16% of adults 
aged 20 to 69 with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids have ever 
used them; and

Whereas, the Arizona Commission for 
the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing proudly serves the 1.1 million deaf, hard of 
hearing and deafblind Arizonans through its work as the statewide information 
and referral bureau, the hearing health care program, the telecommunication 
equipment distribution program and Arizona Relay Services, its efforts in 
family engagement services and training and its partnerships with both public 
and private entities, ensuring the quality of life for every person who has a 
varying hearing level; and 

Whereas, World Hearing Day, founded 
by the World Health Organization, is observed annually on March 3rd to raise 
awareness about how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and to promote ear and 
hearing care around the world; and

Whereas, World Hearing Day provides 
an opportunity to focus on preventing hearing loss and promoting access to 
necessary rehabilitation services and communications tools for individuals with 
hearing loss.

Therefore

Be it resolved by 
the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the Members of the Legislature 
proclaim March 3, 2026 as World Hearing Day in the State of Arizona and 
encourage the citizens of Arizona to protect their hearing and seek the 
services of licensed hearing health care professionals for regular hearing 
checks.