Assembly Bill A1235

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1235
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              January 9, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. SIMON, R. CARROLL, DINOWITZ, HYNDMAN, LUPARDO,
   McDONOUGH, WALKER, WILLIAMS, SEAWRIGHT, SHIMSKY, MORINELLO,  BRABENEC,
   DeSTEFANO,  BENDETT, SLATER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BARRETT,
   COLTON, DiPIETRO, LAVINE, OTIS, PALMESANO, RA, REYES -- read once  and
   referred to the Committee on Aging

 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  elder  law,  in  relation  to  establishing  an
   Alzheimer's disease outreach and education program
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The  elder  law is amended by adding a new section 226 to
 read as follows:
   § 226. ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION  PROGRAM.  1.    THE
 OFFICE,  IN  CONSULTATION  WITH  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF HEALTH, IS HEREBY
 AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO ESTABLISH AN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE OUTREACH AND
 EDUCATION PROGRAM ("THE PROGRAM") FOR MEDICAL  AND  NON-MEDICAL  PROFES-
 SIONALS, INCLUDING PHYSICIANS, NURSES, AND SOCIAL SERVICES PERSONNEL WHO
 WORK WITH OLDER NEW YORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND FOR CONSUMERS, CARE-
 GIVERS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WORKING WITH OR ON BEHALF
 OF PERSONS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIA. THE PURPOSE OF
 THE PROGRAM SHALL BE TO:
   (A)  PROMOTE EARLIER IDENTIFICATION OF DEMENTIA IN HEALTH CARE FACILI-
 TIES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES, CLINICS, AND
 ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES;
   (B) PROVIDE INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE  ON  WHERE  TO  FIND  COMMUNITY
 SUPPORT  SERVICES,  INCLUDING  CAREGIVER  SUPPORT  GROUPS  AND SERVICES,
 RESPITE, CARE MANAGEMENT AND TO SERVE AS  A  CLEARINGHOUSE  FOR  RELATED
 INFORMATION; AND
   (C)  PROMOTE  PUBLIC AWARENESS OF AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND INFORMA-
 TION CONCERNING ALZHEIMER'S  DISEASE  AND  ANY  OTHER  DEMENTIA  RELATED
 MATTERS  THAT THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH AND THE DIRECTOR DEEM APPROPRI-
 ATE.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD02582-01-5
              

 A. 1235                             2
 
   2. THE PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE BUT SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO  ANY  OF  THE
 FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:
   (A)  EDUCATIONAL  AND INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS IN PRINT, AUDIO, VISUAL,
 ELECTRONIC OR OTHER MEDIA;
   (B) TRAINING CURRICULUM INCLUDING BEST PRACTICES FOR  INSTITUTIONS  OF
 HIGHER LEARNING AND FOR ONGOING IN-SERVICE TRAINING;
   (C) PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADVERTISEMENTS; AND
   (D)  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  TOLL-FREE  TELEPHONE  HOTLINES  AND ELECTRONIC
 SERVICES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION.
   3. THE OFFICE SHALL PRODUCE, MAKE  AVAILABLE  TO  OTHERS  FOR  REPROD-
 UCTION,  OR  CONTRACT WITH OTHERS TO DEVELOP MATERIALS MENTIONED IN THIS
 SECTION AS THE DIRECTOR DEEMS APPROPRIATE. THESE MATERIALS SHALL BE MADE
 AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FREE OF CHARGE AS APPROPRIATE OR FOR A FEE UNDER
 CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. THE DIRECTOR  MAY  REQUEST  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF
 HEALTH  TO  REQUIRE  ANY  HEALTH  CARE  PROVIDER TO MAKE THESE MATERIALS
 AVAILABLE  TO  PATIENTS  WHERE  APPROPRIATE  AND  ENCOURAGE  NON-MEDICAL
 PROFESSIONALS TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO THE CLIENTS THEY SERVE.
   4.  IN EXERCISING ANY OF THE DIRECTOR'S POWERS UNDER THIS SECTION, THE
 DIRECTOR SHALL CONSULT WITH APPROPRIATE HEALTH  CARE  PROFESSIONALS  AND
 PROVIDERS,  SENIOR SERVICE PROVIDERS, ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING PERSONS
 WITH DEMENTIA OR COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS, CONSUMERS AND PATIENTS OR ORGAN-
 IZATIONS REPRESENTING THEM.
   5. THE DIRECTOR  SHALL  ENSURE  THAT  ALL  INFORMATION  AND  MATERIALS
 PRODUCED  UNDER  THIS SECTION ARE MAINTAINED AND UPDATED TO REFLECT BEST
 PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS AND ARE CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRI-
 ATE FOR THE COMMUNITIES SERVED BY THE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE  OUTREACH  AND
 EDUCATION  PROGRAM.  THE OFFICE SHALL POST ELECTRONIC COPIES OF OUTREACH
 MATERIAL, INCLUDING BEST PRACTICES, ON ITS WEBSITE.  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF
 HEALTH SHALL POST THE SAME INFORMATION ON ITS WEBSITE.
   6.  THE  DIRECTOR  MAY  APPOINT  ADVISORY COUNCILS RELATING TO VARIOUS
 MATTERS UNDER THIS SECTION. ALL SUCH COUNCILS  SHALL  INCLUDE  REPRESEN-
 TATION  OF  HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, PROVIDERS, SENIOR SERVICE PROVID-
 ERS, ORGANIZATIONS  REPRESENTING  PERSONS  WITH  DEMENTIA  OR  COGNITIVE
 IMPAIRMENTS,  CONSUMERS,  PATIENTS  AND OTHER APPROPRIATE INTERESTS. THE
 MEMBERS  OF  THE  COUNCILS  SHALL  RECEIVE  NO  COMPENSATION  FOR  THEIR
 SERVICES,  BUT  SHALL  BE  ALLOWED  THEIR  ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES
 INCURRED IN PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
   7. IN ADDITION TO STATE FUNDS APPROPRIATED  UNDER  THIS  SECTION,  THE
 DIRECTOR MAY ACCEPT GRANTS FROM PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SOURCES. THE DIRECTOR,
 IN  ADMINISTERING  THIS  SECTION,  SHALL SEEK TO COORDINATE PROGRAMS AND
 ACTIVITIES UNDER THIS SECTION WITH OTHER PUBLIC  AND  PRIVATE  PROGRAMS,
 AND  MAY  UNDERTAKE  JOINT  OR COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS WITH OTHER PUBLIC OR
 PRIVATE ENTITIES.
   8. THE DIRECTOR MAY MAKE RULES AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY AND APPROPRI-
 ATE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.