S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  1449

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 12, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  GOLDEN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed 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:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD04570-01-5

              

S. 1449                             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.  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.