Florida Senate - 2025                                     SB 398
       
       
        
       By Senator Burgess
       
       
       
       
       
       23-00520-25                                            2025398__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to an awareness program for
    3         Alzheimer’s disease and dementia-related disorders;
    4         creating s. 430.5016, F.S.; requiring the Department
    5         of Elderly Affairs to contract for the development and
    6         implementation of the Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness
    7         Program; providing requirements for the program;
    8         providing requirements for the entity with which the
    9         department contracts for the development and
   10         implementation of the program; requiring the
   11         Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Committee to evaluate the
   12         program and make certain recommendations; providing an
   13         appropriation; providing an effective date.
   14          
   15  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   16  
   17         Section 1. Section 430.5016, Florida Statutes, is created
   18  to read:
   19         430.5016 Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Program.—
   20         (1) The Department of Elderly Affairs shall contract for
   21  the development and implementation of the Alzheimer’s Disease
   22  Awareness Program. The program shall assist the residents of
   23  this state affected by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia-related
   24  disorders in obtaining information that is validated by
   25  reputable national research.
   26         (2) The program must, at a minimum:
   27         (a) Include a website and other related electronic
   28  resources that address:
   29         1. The advantages of early detection and diagnosis;
   30         2. Methods for reducing risk factors;
   31         3. The importance of brain health;
   32         4. Scheduling screenings and assessments for Alzheimer’s
   33  disease and dementia-related disorders with a licensed health
   34  care provider;
   35         5. Healthy aging;
   36         6. Recent developments in Alzheimer’s research and
   37  dementia-related disorders and the availability of clinical
   38  trials;
   39         7. Community resources available for those affected by
   40  Alzheimer’s disease and dementia-related disorders; and
   41         8. Any related topics as deemed appropriate by the
   42  department.
   43         (b) Use the department’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Related
   44  Dementias Resource Guide as a part of the program materials.
   45         (c) Promote health care provider education in partnership
   46  with the Department of Health to help improve care and services
   47  for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia-related
   48  disorders in accordance with s. 381.825.
   49         (d) Include print and digital advertising.
   50         (e) Include a statewide, mobile, in-person outreach program
   51  that prioritizes those in underserved communities and provides
   52  information on issues relating to Alzheimer’s disease and
   53  dementia-related disorders, including, but not limited to, brain
   54  health, risk education, and early detection and diagnosis. The
   55  program may also provide referrals to the Department of Elderly
   56  Affairs and provide information regarding any available
   57  community resources relating to Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
   58  related disorders.
   59         (3)(a) The entity with which the department contracts for
   60  the development and implementation of the program must be a
   61  statewide nonprofit organization that meets all of the following
   62  requirements:
   63         1. Has a history of focusing on those affected by
   64  Alzheimer’s disease and dementia-related disorders and their
   65  care and support, including providing online resources to
   66  caregivers and people living with the disease and through
   67  community-based events.
   68         2. Has the organizational capacity to manage a statewide
   69  program and successfully carry out the requirements of this
   70  section.
   71         (b) The entity shall collaborate with other relevant state
   72  agencies and private organizations to develop and implement the
   73  program.
   74         (4) The Alzheimer’s Disease Advisory Committee shall
   75  annually evaluate and make recommendations to the Department of
   76  Elderly Affairs and the Legislature concerning the need for
   77  future funding for the Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Program as
   78  a part of its annual report.
   79         Section 2. For the 2025-2026 fiscal year, the sum of $1.5
   80  million in nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the General
   81  Revenue Fund to the Department of Elderly Affairs for the
   82  purpose of administering the Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness
   83  Program pursuant to s. 430.5016, Florida Statutes.
   84         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.