HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 280        FILED ON: 1/9/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 541

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Cheryl A. Coakley-Rivera

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to establish an Alzheimer's state plan commission.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 280        FILED ON: 1/9/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 541

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2727 OF 2011-2012.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act to establish an Alzheimer's state plan commission.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section  1 . Pursuant to section 2 of chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, the Alzheimer’s State Plan Commission is established.   The Alzheimer’s State Plan Commission will consist of the following members, including, but not limited to, the Chairpersons of the Joint Committee on  Healthcare Financing; Elder Affairs; and Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities or their designees, at least 1 person with Alzheimer’s disease; 1 caregiver of a person with Alzheimer’s disease; 1 representative of the nursing facility industry; 1 representative of the assisted living industry; 1 representative of the adult day services industry; 1 representative of the medical care provider  community; 1 representative of the home care/home health industry; 1 representative from hospice; 1 Alzheimer’s disease researcher; and 1 representative from the Alzheimer’s Association Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter to be appointed by the Governor.

Additional members are to be the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health, the Secretary of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Commissioner of the Department of Mental Retardation, the Director of the Office of Medicaid, the Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, and the Secretary of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, or their designees.

Members of the Commission shall serve on a voluntary basis and are not entitled to mileage, per diem, subsistence or other forms of compensation.

Section 2.   The Executive Office of Health and Human Services shall convene the Alzheimer’s State Plan Commission and the Secretary shall serve as the chair.

Section 3 .   The Alzheimer’s State Plan Commission is directed to assess the current and future impact of Alzheimer’s disease on residents of the Commonwealth, to examine the existing industries, services and resources addressing the needs of persons with Alzheimer’s, their families and caregivers; and to develop a strategy to mobilize a state response.

Section 4.   This report is to include:

(1)     trends in the Commonwealth’s Alzheimer’s population and needs, including the changing population with dementia;

(2)     existing services, resources, and the capacity to serve persons with Alzheimer’s and related dementia; and,

(3)     needed state policies or responses, including but not limited to directions for the clear and coordinated services and supports to persons and families living with Alzheimer’s and related disorders and strategies to address any identified gaps in services.

Section 5.   The Alzheimer’s State Plan Commission is directed to hold public meetings as needed and utilize technological means, such as webcasts, to generate discussion and gather feedback on the recommendations from persons and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and the general public across the Commonwealth.

Section 6.   The Alzheimer’s State Plan Commission is directed to submit a report of its findings and data-specific recommendations to the Governor, the General Court, the Department of Elder Affairs, the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, and the Joint Committee on Healthcare Financing on the form of a State Alzheimer’s Plan no later than February 1, 2014.

Section 7 .   The Alzheimer’s State Plan Commission shall sunset upon delivery of the State Alzheimer’s Plan.