PRINTER'S NO. 3251
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2400
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY MADDEN, KIM, SAMUELSON, KHAN, BRENNAN, M. BROWN,
CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, T. DAVIS, FREEMAN, GALLAGHER, GIRAL, HARKINS,
HILL-EVANS, KINSEY, MAYES, McNEILL, PROBST, PROKOPIAK, ROZZI,
SANCHEZ, SCHLOSSBERG, VENKAT AND D. WILLIAMS, JUNE 5, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGING AND OLDER ADULT SERVICES,
JUNE 5, 2024
AN ACT
Establishing the Alzheimer's, Dementia and Related Disorders
Office and the Alzheimer's, Dementia and Related Disorders
Advisory Committee.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Alzheimer's,
Dementia and Related Disorders Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Advisory committee." The Alzheimer's, Dementia and Related
Disorders Advisory Committee established under section 4.
"Alzheimer's, dementia and related disorders." An
irreversible and progressive neurological disorder diagnosed by
a physician that has all of the following characteristics:
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(1) The disorder causes cognitive decline and memory
impairment, behavioral and psychiatric problems and loss of
the ability to care for oneself.
(2) The disorder is severe enough to interfere with work
or social activities and requires continuous care or
supervision.
"Department." The Department of Aging of the Commonwealth.
"Director." An individual appointed by the secretary to
oversee operations and responsibilities of the office.
"Office." The Alzheimer's, Dementia and Related Disorders
Office established under section 3.
"Secretary." The Secretary of Aging of the Commonwealth.
"State Plan." The Pennsylvania State Plan for Alzheimer's,
Dementia and Related Disorders established pursuant to Executive
Order 2013-01 or a successor State Plan established pursuant to
a departmental policy or regulation.
Section 3. Alzheimer's, Dementia and Related Disorders Office.
(a) Establishment.--The Alzheimer's, Dementia and Related
Disorders Office is established within the department.
(b) Director.--The position of director is established as a
full-time position to oversee operations of the office.
(c) Duties.--The office shall have the following powers and
responsibilities:
(1) Oversight of activities associated with and relevant
to the successful implementation of the State Plan.
(2) Providing strategic direction and support to the
advisory committee, such as leading the required updates to
the State Plan.
(3) Establishing and maintaining relationships with
other Commonwealth agencies and organizations within this
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Commonwealth to foster public-private collaboration in order
to meet the needs of the affected population and prevent
duplication of services.
(4) Evaluating existing Alzheimer's, dementia and
related disorders programs and services.
(5) Identifying service gaps within the Commonwealth.
(6) Increasing awareness of and facilitating access to
quality, coordinated care for individuals with Alzheimer's,
dementia and related disorders.
(7) Utilizing Alzheimer's, dementia and related
disorders data to coordinate and collaborate with other
Commonwealth agencies to improve health outcomes.
(8) No less than every five years, and in consultation
with the advisory committee, conducting a review of the
existing State Plan to evaluate changes in trends, scientific
and research advancements, gaps in services and other
emerging issues impacting this population and to determine if
amendments are necessary.
(9) In consultation with the advisory committee,
approving and implementing amendments to the State Plan.
(10) Identifying and managing grants to assist in the
funding of the office, State Plan implementation and other
programs and services to assist this Commonwealth in becoming
dementia-capable.
(11) In consultation with the advisory committee,
compiling an annual report, which shall be made available on
the department's publicly accessible Internet website,
outlining key office deliverables, such as population data
and statistics updates, funding through grant applications
and State Plan implementation status.
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Section 4. Alzheimer's, Dementia and Related Disorders Advisory
Committee.
(a) Establishment.--The Alzheimer's, Dementia and Related
Disorders Advisory Committee is established in the department.
(b) Membership.--The advisory committee shall consist of the
following members:
(1) The secretary or a designee.
(2) The Secretary of Health or a designee.
(3) The Secretary of Human Services or a designee.
(4) The Secretary of Labor and Industry or a designee.
(5) The chair and minority chair of the Aging and Youth
Committee of the Senate or designees and the chair and
minority chair of the Aging and Older Adult Services
Committee of the House of Representatives or designees.
(6) A member from the Pennsylvania Council on Aging.
(7) Bureau Director representing the Pharmaceutical
Assistance Contract for the Elderly program.
(8) An individual living with Alzheimer's, dementia or a
related disorder or a designee.
(9) A family member of or a caregiver for a person
living with Alzheimer's, dementia or a related disorder.
(10) An attorney with at least five years' experience in
providing legal representation to older adults with cognitive
diseases and related disorders.
(11) Three individuals from non-governmental Statewide
organizations that advocate for older adults.
(12) A physician with at least five years' experience in
diagnosing and treating Alzheimer's, dementia and related
disorders.
(13) Two individuals who conduct research regarding
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Alzheimer's, dementia and related disorders.
(14) An individual representing the local area agencies
on aging.
(15) An individual representing the Commonwealth's
hospitals and health systems.
(16) An individual representing the facilities in the
Commonwealth that provide long-term care to individuals.
(17) An individual representing the Commonwealth's
community health centers in rural and urban communities.
(18) An individual representing older adult day living
centers.
(19) An individual representing the life providers.
(20) An individual representing a federally qualified
health center.
(21) An individual representing the Pennsylvania Society
for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.
(22) An individual representing a Statewide association
dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support and research.
(c) Appointments.--Except for members under subsection (b)
(1), (2), (3), (4) and (5), members of the advisory committee
shall be appointed by the Governor to four-year staggered terms.
The members of the Governor's Cabinet and sitting members of the
Senate and the House of Representatives shall be appointed to a
term corresponding to the member's term of office.
(d) Term.--Members shall be eligible for reappointment but
shall serve no more than two consecutive full terms. Members
shall serve until a successor is appointed and qualified,
provided the successor represents the interests of the
membership class for which the member was appointed.
(e) Vacancies.--Any vacancy of the advisory committee shall
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be filled by the original appointing authority. An individual
appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve the balance of the
previous member's term.
(f) Removal.--Members may be removed from the committee for
the following reasons:
(1) A member who fails to attend three consecutive
meetings shall forfeit the member's seat unless the
chairperson, upon written request from the member, finds that
the member should be excused from a meeting.
(2) A member shall forfeit the member's seat if the
member no longer represents the interests of the membership
class for which the member was appointed. A member meeting
the threshold under this paragraph shall no longer be
employed or associated with the interests of the respective
qualifications for which the member was appointed.
(g) Expenses.--Members may not receive compensation or
remuneration for service as advisory committee members.
Nongovernmental advisory committee members shall be entitled to
reimbursement for travel and related actual expenses accrued in
the performance of the duties as members, in accordance with
Commonwealth travel policy.
(h) Designee.--Governmental members and the member who is
living with Alzheimer's, dementia or related disorder may
appoint a designee to attend and vote at meetings of the
advisory committee. Each member who appoints a designee shall do
so by sending a letter to the chairperson stating the name of
the designee.
(i) Chair.--The chair of the advisory committee shall be the
secretary or a designee.
(j) Vice chair.--The vice chair of the committee shall be
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the Secretary of Health or a designee.
Section 5. Powers and duties of the advisory committee.
(a) Committee.--The advisory committee shall meet on a
quarterly basis at minimum and shall have the following powers
and duties:
(1) Assess the current and future impact of Alzheimer's,
dementia and related disorders on residents of this
Commonwealth.
(2) Examine the existing industries, services and
resources addressing the needs of persons with Alzheimer's,
dementia and related disorders, their families and
caregivers.
(3) Develop strategies to mobilize a Statewide response
to Alzheimer's, dementia and related disorders.
(4) Advise the department on necessary updates and
implementation of the State Plan.
(5) Consult with various Commonwealth agencies and to
make recommendations on regulations, licensure, financing or
any other responsibilities of those Commonwealth agencies
relating to Alzheimer's, dementia and related disorders.
(6) Perform other duties as the Governor may assign
relating to Alzheimer's, dementia and related disorders.
(7) Develop and adopt rules for conducting advisory
committee meetings, including, but not limited to, the
procedure for formally adopting the approval of committee
reports before release to the public.
(b) Scope.--All powers and duties enumerated in this section
shall be performed in a manner that addresses all areas of
Alzheimer's, dementia and related disorders.
Section 6. Effective date.
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This act shall take effect in 180 days.
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