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

                                  3958

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 31, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to the
  Committee on Health

AN ACT to amend the public health 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 public health law is amended by adding  a  new  section
2701-a to read as follows:
  S  2701-A. ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM. 1.  THE
DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE OFFICE FOR  THE  AGING,  IS  HEREBY
AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO ESTABLISH AN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE OUTREACH AND
EDUCATION  PROGRAM  FOR MEDICAL AND NON-MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING
PHYSICIANS,  NURSES,  LAW  ENFORCEMENT  PERSONNEL  AND  SOCIAL  SERVICES
PERSONNEL  WHO  WORK  WITH OLDER NEW YORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND FOR
CONSUMERS, CAREGIVERS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS  AND  ORGANIZATIONS  WORKING
WITH OR ON BEHALF OF PERSONS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMEN-
TIA. THE PURPOSE OF SUCH 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:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD07971-01-1

              

A. 3958                             2

  (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.  IN  ORDER  TO  DEVELOP  MATERIALS  MENTIONED  IN THIS SECTION, THE
DEPARTMENT SHALL PRODUCE, MAKE AVAILABLE TO OTHERS FOR REPRODUCTION,  OR
CONTRACT  WITH  NOT-FOR-PROFIT  CORPORATIONS WHOSE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO
PROVIDE FAMILY INTERVENTION SERVICES RELATED TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE ON A
STATEWIDE BASIS IN ORDER TO POSTPONE OR PREVENT NURSING HOME  PLACEMENTS
OF  INDIVIDUALS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE OR OTHER DEMENTIA.  THESE MATE-
RIALS SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FREE OF CHARGE AS  APPROPRI-
ATE  OR  FOR  A  FEE  UNDER  CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. THE COMMISSIONER MAY
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
COMMISSIONER  SHALL  CONSULT  WITH APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS
AND PROVIDERS,  SENIOR  SERVICE  PROVIDERS,  ORGANIZATIONS  REPRESENTING
PERSONS  WITH  DEMENTIA OR COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS, CONSUMERS AND PATIENTS
OR ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING THEM.
  5. THE COMMISSIONER 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  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  POST  ELECTRONIC  COPIES OF
OUTREACH MATERIAL, INCLUDING BEST PRACTICES, ON ITS WEBSITE. THE  OFFICE
FOR THE AGING SHALL POST THE SAME INFORMATION ON ITS WEBSITE.
  6.  THE COMMISSIONER 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 TO ADMINISTER THIS SECTION,
THE COMMISSIONER MAY ACCEPT GRANTS FROM PUBLIC OR PRIVATE  SOURCES.  THE
COMMISSIONER,  IN  ADMINISTERING  THIS SECTION, SHALL SEEK TO COORDINATE
THE DEPARTMENT'S 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 COMMISSIONER MAY  MAKE  RULES  AND  REGULATIONS  NECESSARY  AND
APPROPRIATE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.