New Jersey-2024-S2771-Introduced

An Act concerning Alzheimer's disease and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Alzheimer's Disease Public Awareness and Education Act."

2. The Legislature finds and declares that:

a. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that damages and eventually destroys brain cells, leading to diminished memory, thinking, and other brain functions.

b. The visible symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are often mistaken to be a normal part of aging.

c. Many people with the disease encounter precarious personal and legal situations due to their diminished brain function.

d. Alzheimer's disease takes an enormous emotional, psychological, financial, and physical toll on the individual, caregivers, and families.

e. It has been estimated that 5.8 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, with that number expected to grow to 14 million by 2050.

f. There are currently no medicines that are effective in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

g. Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia cost the nation $290 billion per year, which cost could rise to $1.1 trillion by 2050;

h. Increased public awareness and education are needed among health care, social services, judicial, law enforcement, and emergency medical services personnel in order to better respond to the needs of patients living with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders or other forms of dementia, their caregivers, and their families.

i. It is imperative for New Jersey to commit itself to actively support public awareness and education efforts throughout the State in order to better meet the needs of its citizens who are suffering from or affected by Alzheimer's disease.

3. As used in this act:

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Human Services.

"Department" means the Department of Human Services.

"Program" means the Alzheimer's disease public awareness and education program established pursuant to this act.

4. The commissioner, subject to available funds, shall establish an Alzheimer's disease public awareness and education program.

a. The purpose of the program shall be to promote public awareness of Alzheimer's disease and the value of early detection and possible treatments, including the benefits and risks of those treatments. The department may accept for that purpose any grant of monies, services, or property from the federal government, an organization, or a medical school.

b. The program shall include the following:

(1) Development of a public campaign to promote Alzheimer's disease awareness and education, including, but not limited to, the following subjects:

(a) the nature, symptoms, and warning signs of the disease;

(b) lifestyle issues relating to how individuals and families cope with Alzheimer's disease, including, but not limited to, diet and physical exercise;

(d) availability of Alzheimer's disease diagnostic and treatment services in the community; and

(e) cognitive aging and the benefits of early detection and diagnosis.

(2) Development of educational materials to be made available through local boards of health, physicians, hospitals, and clinics; and

(3) Development of educational programs for judicial staff, police officers, fire fighters, and social services and emergency medical service providers, to assist them in recognizing the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and understanding how to respond to the needs of persons with the disease in the course of performing their duties.

5. The department, in consultation with the Greater New Jersey Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, shall prepare and make available on the department's Internet website in English and Spanish, and in a manner that is easily understandable by the general public, information about the symptoms and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and any other information that the commissioner deems necessary.

6. The Commissioner of Human Services, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), may adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this act.

7. This act shall take effect on the 180th day following enactment, except that the Commissioner of Human Services may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of the act.

STATEMENT

This bill requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish Alzheimer's disease public awareness campaign.

Under the bill, the Commissioner of Human Services, subject to available funds, is required to establish an Alzheimer's disease public awareness and education program. The purpose of the program is to promote public awareness of Alzheimer's disease and the value of early detection and possible treatments, including the benefits and risks of those treatments. The DHS may accept for that purpose any grant of monies, services, or property from the federal government, an organization, or a medical school.

The program is to include the following: (1) development of a public campaign to promote Alzheimer's disease awareness and education, including, but not limited to, the subjects outlined in the bill; (2) development of educational materials to be made available through local boards of health, physicians, hospitals, and clinics; and (3) development of educational programs for judicial staff, police officers, fire fighters, and social services and emergency medical service providers, to assist them in recognizing the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and understanding how to respond to the needs of persons with the disease in the course of performing their duties.

The bill provides that the DHS, in consultation with the Greater New Jersey Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, is to prepare and make available on the DHS's Internet website, in English and Spanish, and in a manner that is easily understandable by the general public, information about the symptoms and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and any other information that the commissioner deems necessary.