Bill seeks to require park signs about Lyme disease, tick bites

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation could be required to post signage regarding tick bites and Lyme disease in each state and interstate park under a bill that passed the Virginia House and Senate last week.

Del. David Reid, D-Ashburn, proposed the bill, HB850, on Jan. 12 and it was immediately referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources, and then its Natural Resources subcommittee.

During the meeting, Reid introduced the bill and thanked the National Capital Lyme Disease Association, who provided input and guidance on the legislation as he had been developing it, he said.
Reid split the purpose behind the bill into two parts, education and awareness. The first part directed the DCR to create signs in all 41 state parks, he said. In regard to cost, Reid used the $1,500 per sign that is used for historical markers as a model.

The second part of the bill focused on creating instructional resources and materials for use in public libraries and schools.

“It doesn’t mandate that the schools have to use it,” Reid said. “But it shall be age appropriate and educational […] and will be made available to libraries and schools upon request, at no charge.”

Monte Skall, the executive director of NatCapLyme, came onto the virtual forum to express her support for HB 850. Virginians lack adequate knowledge about tick disease, she said, and HB 850 “achieves the purpose of encouraging public education on Lyme disease and how to prevent its further spread.”

Skall continued, “[The bill] encourages Virginians to learn about Lyme and other tick diseases, treat them seriously, take aggressive prevention measures, and seek early treatment.”

Maureen Crystal, a Virginia resident who had Lyme disease 17 years ago, was the second public speaker to support the bill.

“Virginia was and is one of the top endemic states in the country for Lyme disease according to the CDC,” she said. She supports HB 850 “so that other Virginians don’t end up with [her] fate.”

Chris Roe, an elementary special education public school teacher, contributed other testimony. He contracted Lyme as a child and the effects were devastating, he said.

“I lost the ability to read, write, count change, and even walk short distances,” Roe said. He said that school systems have numerous students similar to him and the effects often go unrecognized.

Roe encouraged delegates to support the bill because “public health is only as valuable as the belief that people have in it.”

“I know firsthand that education is the most valuable tool that we have to strengthen public health, increase outcomes and empower people to live a proactive life,” he said. “This bill, particularly its education component, will have long lasting, profound and necessary outcomes that will help to prevent Lyme disease and strengthen our public health systems.”

The bill passed 6-0 and then passed with no discussion in the remaining House committees and subcommittees. It passed the House 99-1 and the Senate by unanimous vote, sending it to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s desk.