S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  10398

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             March 23, 2010
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A. HYER-SPENCER -- 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  224  to
read as follows:
  S  224.  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 AND DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR  THE  AGING
DEEM APPROPRIATE.
  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;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD07112-02-9

A. 10398                            2

  (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  HIS OR HER 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.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.