Bill Text: HI SB2398 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Alzheimer's Disease Task Force

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-21 - Referred to HMS/HTH, WAM. [SB2398 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-SB2398-Introduced.html

---

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2398
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to health.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Alzheimer's disease accounts for approximately sixty to seventy per cent of dementia cases.  As the disease progresses, functional abilities decline, resulting in an individual's inability to carry out such basic bodily functions as walking and swallowing, and ultimately leads to death.  The most important known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease is age.  According to the Alzheimer's Association, the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease doubles about every five years after age sixty-five, and almost half of the people over eighty-five will have some form of memory loss.

     The legislature further finds that due to the aging of the Hawaii population, the prevalence of age-related illnesses, including Alzheimer's disease, is expected to increase.  From 2010 to 2015, the Hawaii population over the age of sixty-five will increase by sixty-seven per cent.  The Alzheimer's Association has projected that in 2025, there will be thirty-four thousand, or ten per cent, of Hawaii residents age sixty-five and older with Alzheimer's disease.

     The purpose of this Act is establish the Alzheimer's disease task force to assess the current and future impact of Alzheimer's disease on Hawaii residents and develop strategies to prevent and treat individuals with Alzheimer's disease, enhance care quality and efficiency, and expand supports for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and their families.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established within the department of health for administrative purposes an Alzheimer's disease task force to assess the current and future impact of Alzheimer's disease on Hawaii residents and develop strategies to prevent and treat individuals with Alzheimer's disease, enhance care quality and efficiency, and expand supports for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and their families.

     (b)  The Alzheimer's disease task force shall have twenty-one members.  The members of the task force shall include:

     (1)  The director of human services, or the director's designee;

     (2)  The director of health, or the director's designee;

     (3)  The director of the executive office on aging, or the director's designee;

     (4)  The president of the Hawaii health systems corporation, or the president's designee;

     (5)  The administrator of the state health planning and development agency, or the administrator's designee;

     (6)  The chief of the adult mental health division, or the chief's designee;

     (7)  Two individuals diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease to be appointed, one each, by the senate president and speaker of the house of representatives;

     (8)  Two individuals who are caregivers to individuals with Alzheimer's disease to be appointed, one each, by the senate president and speaker of the house of representatives;

     (9)  Two representatives of adult care homes that offer special care units for individuals with Alzheimer's disease to be appointed, one each, by the senate president and speaker of the house of representatives;

    (10)  Two representatives of nursing home facilities that provide special care for individuals with Alzheimer's disease to be appointed, one each, by the senate president and speaker of the house of representatives;

    (11)  Two representatives of the medical profession with experience treating individuals with Alzheimer's disease to be appointed, one each, by the senate president and speaker of the house of representatives;

    (12)  Two individuals of the Alzheimer's Association – Aloha Chapter to be appointed, one each, by the senate president and speaker of the house of representatives; and

    (13)  Two members at large appointed by the governor.

     The governor shall appoint the chairperson of the task force.

     (c)  The Alzheimer's disease task force shall:

     (1)  Assess the current and future impact of Alzheimer's disease on Hawaii residents;

     (2)  Examine the existing industries, services, and resources available within the State to address the needs of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and their families and caregivers;

     (3)  Develop a strategy to mobilize a state response to Alzheimer's disease;

     (4)  Examine state trends in the population of individuals with Alzheimer's disease, including the changing population of individuals with dementia and their needs in all of the following areas:

         (A)  State's role in providing long-term care, family caregiver support, and assistance to individuals with early-stage and early onset of Alzheimer's disease;

         (B)  State policy regarding individuals with Alzheimer's disease and developmental disabilities; and

         (C)  Surveillance of individuals with Alzheimer's disease for the purpose of developing proper estimates of the number of individuals in Hawaii with Alzheimer's disease;

     (5)  Examine existing services, resources, and capacity for treating and managing Alzheimer's disease, including but not limited to:

         (A)  Type, cost, and availability of dementia services;

         (B)  Dementia-specific training requirements for long-term care staff;

         (C)  Quality care measures for long-term care facilities;

         (D)  Capacity of public safety and law enforcement to respond to individuals with Alzheimer's disease;

         (E)  Availability of home and community-based resources for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and availability of respite care to assist families;

         (F)  Inventory of long-term care dementia care units;

         (G)  Adequacy and appropriateness of geriatric-psychiatric units for individuals with behavior disorders associated with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia;

         (H)  Assisted living residential options for individuals with dementia; and

         (I)  State support of Alzheimer's research through the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and other resources; and

     (6)  Examine needed state policies or responses, including but not limited to:

         (A)  Directions for the provision of clear and coordinated services and supports to individuals and families living with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders; and

         (B)  Strategies to address any identified gaps in services for individuals and families living with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

     (d)  Members of the Alzheimer's disease task force shall serve without compensation for their service on the task force but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, including travel expenses, incurred for serving on the task force.

     (e)  The Alzheimer's disease task force shall submit a report of its findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2015, and shall be dissolved on July 1, 2015.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Alzheimer's Disease Task Force

 

Description:

Establishes the Alzheimer's disease task force to assess the current and future impact of Alzheimer's disease on Hawaii residents and develop strategies to prevent and treat individuals with Alzheimer's disease, enhance care quality and efficiency, and expand supports for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and their families.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.