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