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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to Alzheimer's disease; creating s.

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430.5025, F.S.; directing the Department of Elderly

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Affairs to develop and implement a public education

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program relating to screening for Alzheimer's disease;

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providing criteria for awarding grants; providing a

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definition; requiring grant recipients to submit an

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evaluation of certain activities to the department;

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authorizing the department to provide technical support;

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requiring a report; creating s. 430.5026, F.S.; requiring

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the department to conduct or support a study on memory-

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impairment screening; requiring a report; providing an

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effective date.

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     WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease is a slow, progressive disorder

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of the brain that results in loss of memory and other cognitive

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functions, is the eighth leading cause of death in the United

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States, and currently affects an estimated 5 million Americans,

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with that number expected to increase to 16 million by mid-

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century, and

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     WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease strikes approximately 1 in 10

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people over the age of 65 and nearly half of those who are age 85

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or older, although some people develop symptoms as young as age

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40, and

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     WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease takes an enormous toll on

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family members who are the caregivers for individuals having the

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disease, and

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     WHEREAS, caregivers for individuals who have Alzheimer's

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disease suffer more stress, depression, and health problems than

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caregivers for individuals who have other illnesses, and

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     WHEREAS, Alzheimer's disease costs United States businesses

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more than $60 billion annually due to lost productivity and

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absenteeism by primary caregivers and increased insurance costs,

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and

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     WHEREAS, recent advancements in scientific research have

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demonstrated the benefits of early medical treatment for persons

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who have Alzheimer's disease and the benefits of early access to

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counseling and other support services for their caregivers, and

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     WHEREAS, research shows that several medications have been

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developed that can reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease,

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that persons begin to benefit most when these medications are

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taken in the early stages of a memory disorder, and that this

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intervention may extend the period of time during which patients

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can be cared for at home, thereby significantly reducing the

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costs of institutional care, and

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     WHEREAS, with early diagnosis, patients can participate in

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decisions regarding their care and their families can take

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advantage of support services that can reduce caregiver

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depression and related health problems, and

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     WHEREAS, in direct response to research breakthroughs,

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National Memory Screening Day was established as a collaborative

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effort by organizations and health care professionals across the

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country to promote awareness and early detection of memory

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impairments, and

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     WHEREAS, on National Memory Screening Day, which is held on

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the third Tuesday of November in recognition of National

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Alzheimer's Disease Month, health care professionals administer

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free memory screenings at hundreds of sites throughout the United

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States, and

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     WHEREAS, memory screening is used as an indicator of whether

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a person might benefit from more extensive testing to determine

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whether a memory or cognitive impairment exists and identifies

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persons who may benefit from medical attention but is not used to

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diagnose any illness and in no way replaces examination by a

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qualified physician, NOW, THEREFORE,

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1.  Section 430.5025, Florida Statutes, is created

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to read:

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     430.5025 Memory impairment screening; grants.--

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     (1) The Department of Elderly Affairs shall develop and

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implement a public education program relating to screening for

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memory impairment and the importance of early diagnosis and

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treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

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     (2) The department may award grants to qualifying entities

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to support the development, expansion, or operation of programs

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that provide:

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     (a) Information and education on the importance of memory

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screening for early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's

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disease and related disorders.

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     (b) Screenings for memory impairment.

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     (3) For purposes of this section, the term "qualifying

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entities" means public and nonprofit private entities that

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provide services and care to individuals who have Alzheimer's

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disease or related disorders and their caregivers and families.

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     (4) When awarding grants under this section, the department

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shall give preference to applicants that:

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     (a) Have demonstrated experience in promoting public

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education and awareness of the importance of memory screening or

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providing memory-screening services.

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     (b) Have established arrangements with health care

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providers and other organizations to provide screenings for

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memory impairment in a manner that is convenient to individuals

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in the communities served by the applicants.

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     (c) Provide matching funds.

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     (5) A qualifying entity that receives a grant under this

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section shall submit to the department an evaluation that

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describes activities carried out with funds received under this

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section, the long-term effectiveness of such activities in

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promoting early detection of memory impairment, and such other

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information as the department may require.

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     (6) The department may set aside an amount not to exceed 15

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percent of the total amount appropriated for the fiscal year to

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provide grantees with technical support in the development,

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implementation, and evaluation of memory-screening programs.

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     (7) A grant may be awarded under subsection (2) only if an

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application for the grant is submitted to the department and the

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application is in such form, is made in such manner, and contains

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such agreements, assurances, and information as the department

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determines to be necessary to carry out the purposes of this

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section.

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     (8) The department shall annually submit to the President

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of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a

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report on the activities carried out under this section,

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including provisions describing the extent to which the

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activities have affected the rate of screening for memory

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impairment and have improved outcomes for patients and

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caregivers.

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     Section 2.  Section 430.5026, Florida Statutes, is created

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to read:

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     430.5026 Study on screening for memory impairment.--

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     (1) The Department of Elderly Affairs shall conduct or

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provide support for a study on screening for memory impairment.

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The study shall analyze scientific evidence regarding techniques

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for memory screening, assess the availability of memory screening

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on a nationwide basis, and identify strategies to expand

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screening services through public-private partnerships to improve

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outcomes for patients and caregivers.

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     (2) The department shall, not later than 12 months after

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this section becomes law, prepare and submit to the relevant

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substantive committees of the Senate and the House of

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Representatives a report that describes the results of the study

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conducted under this section. The report shall include specific

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recommendations to increase awareness of the importance of early

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detection of memory impairment and to improve access to memory-

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screening services nationwide by supporting and expanding

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existing screening efforts in the private sector.

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     Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.