Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 23.1-2311.1 as follows:

§23.1-2311.1. Virginia Center on Aging; Virginia Memory Project.

A. There is established within the Virginia Center on Aging the Virginia Memory Project.

B. The purpose of the Virginia Memory Project shall be to collect and analyze data on Alzheimer's disease, related dementias, and other neurodegenerative disorders in the Commonwealth, provide responsive assistance to individuals with Alzheimer's disease, related dementias, and other neurodegenerative disorders by connecting them with relevant service providers, and assist in the development of public policy and planning relative to Alzheimer's disease, related dementias, and other neurodegenerative disorders. The Virginia Memory Project shall provide and maintain a central database of individuals with Alzheimer's disease, related dementias, or other neurodegenerative disorders.

C. The executive director of the Virginia Center on Aging shall also direct the Virginia Memory Project. The executive director shall establish provisions for:

1. The collection and evaluation of data regarding the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders in the Commonwealth, including who shall report the data to the central database;

2. The determination of what information shall be maintained in the central database and the length of time such data shall be available;

3. The process for sharing data for policy planning purposes;

4. The process for disclosing nonidentifying data to support research on Alzheimer's disease and related disorders;

5. The methodology by which families and physicians of persons who are reported to the central database shall be contacted to gather additional data; and

6. The provision of information to families and physicians about public and private resources.

D. The collected data in the Virginia Memory Project shall be confidential, and all persons to whom the data in the Virginia Memory Project is released shall maintain patient confidentiality. No publication of information shall be made that identifies any patient by name.

2. That the provisions of this act shall become effective on January 1, 2025.