S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7344
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                May 5, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, BARRETT, ZEBROWSKI, MONTESANO, McDO-
   NOUGH,  RA,  L. ROSENTHAL,  COOK,  GUNTHER,  CUSICK,  COLTON,  OTIS --
   Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ABBATE, PALMESANO, QUART --  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:
   § 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.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11209-01-1
              

 A. 7344                             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. 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.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.