24 LC 33 9396/AP
House Bill 571 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Silcox of the 53
rd
, Cooper of the 45
th
, and Dempsey of the 13
th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 8 of Chapter 6 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
1
relating to Alzheimer's and Related Dementias State Plan, so as to provide that the Georgia2
Alzheimer's and Related Dementias State Plan be updated every four years; to provide for3
a progress report between updates; to revise provisions relating to membership on the4
advisory council; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other5
purposes.6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7
SECTION 1.8
Article 8 of Chapter 6 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to9
Alzheimer's and Related Dementias State Plan, is amended by revising Code Section10
49-6-92, relating to establishment of advisory council, membership, advisory nature, review11
and recommendations, operation of council, and reporting, as follows:12
"49-6-92.13
(a) There is established the Georgia Alzheimer's and Related Dementias State Plan14
Advisory Council which shall consist of the following members:15
H. B. 571
- 1 - 24 LC 33 9396/AP
(1) Eleven individuals are standing members due to their position in government agency,
16
organization, or elected office:17
(A) The commissioner of human services or his or her designee;18
(B) The director of the Division of Aging Services;19
(C) The president of the Georgia Association of Area Agencies on Aging or his or her20
designee;21
(D) The commissioner of community health or his or her designee;22
(E) The commissioner of public health or his or her designee;23
(F) The commissioner of behavioral health and developmental disabilities or his or her24
designee;25
(G) The chairperson of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee or his or her26
designee;27
(H) The chairperson of the House Committee on Public
Health and Human Services28
or his or her designee;29
(I) The chairperson of the House Committee on Human Relations and Aging or his or30
her designee;31
(J) A representative of the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association; and32
(K) A representative of the Georgia Council on Aging.; and33
(2) The Governor shall appoint one individual from around the state in each topical area34
below, chosen for his or her expertise or experience in one of the following six specific35
fields:36
(A) A provider of residential, health care, or personal care services to those living with37
dementia;38
(B) A social gerontologist or clinical researcher in an education or clinical setting with39
expertise in dementia;40
(C) An advocate with a not-for-profit or state agency whose role is to improve services41
for older adults or those living with dementia;42
H. B. 571
- 2 - 24 LC 33 9396/AP
(D) A medical professional with an active practice specializing in geriatrics, neurology,
43
or other field closely related to dementia;44
(E) A caregiver, current or past, for a family member with dementia who has45
experience navigating health care service options; and46
(F) A person who has been diagnosed with dementia.47
(b) The advisory council shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Governor, the General48
Assembly, the Department of Human Services, and all other state agencies on matters49
relating to the Georgia Alzheimer's and Related Dementias State Plan. The advisory50
council shall review and make recommendations regarding progress toward the goals of51
the state plan and on progress in implementing resources and services to serve individuals52
with dementia related diseases around Georgia in the future. Such review and53
recommendations shall include, but not be limited to, the following:54
(1) Selecting current priorities for state plan work groups to focus on;55
(2) Examining the current laws, rules and regulations, and policies of the various56
agencies that interact with services for individuals with dementia and making57
recommendations to improve the navigation of and provision of care services for those58
with dementia and their caregivers;59
(3) Proposing legislative or administrative changes to policies and programs needed for60
furtherance of the state plan;61
(4) Examining state and federal funding into the areas of the state plan and reviewing62
how to work interdisciplinarily to ensure the most efficient and effective use of available63
resources;64
(5) Locating and assisting departments or partner agencies in applying for new funding65
sources and new opportunities in furtherance of the goals of the state plan; and66
(6) Amending the state plan at least every three
four years and submitting the amended67
state plan to the Governor for authorization.68
H. B. 571
- 3 - 24 LC 33 9396/AP
(c) The advisory council shall annually elect a chairperson and vice chairperson from
69
among its membership. The advisory council may elect such other officers and establish70
committees as it considers appropriate. Until a chairperson and vice chairperson are71
elected or if the chairperson or vice chairperson is unavailable, the director of the Division72
of Aging Services shall serve temporarily in that role until a new election can be held by73
the advisory council. The advisory council shall create and vote on bylaws and policies as74
needed.75
(d) The terms of those individuals appointed by the Governor pursuant to paragraph (2)76
of subsection (a) of this Code section shall serve for an appointment of two years, with the77
exception of the first year of existence of the advisory council. For the purpose of78
staggering term appointments, in the first appointment of the individuals in paragraph (2)79
of subsection (a) of this Code section, the Governor shall appoint three appointees for a80
one-year first term and three appointees for a two-year first term. All subsequent81
appointments or reappointments shall be for terms of two years. If an appointee resigns or82
is otherwise unable to complete the appointed term, the Governor shall appoint a new83
individual whose expertise or experience satisfies the vacated position within 90 days.84
(e) The advisory council shall meet at least quarterly and at such additional times as it shall85
determine necessary to perform its duties. The advisory council shall also meet on the call86
of the chairperson, the vice chairperson, the commissioner, or the Governor. All meetings87
shall contain updates from each work group and presentations on any developed proposals88
for furtherance of the state plan goals. At or before the summer quarterly meeting, the89
advisory council shall take a formal vote on any proposals or recommendations under90
consideration.91
(f)(1)
Starting on January 1, 2019 2027, and repeating every three four years after that92
date thereafter, the advisory council shall submit to the Governor for his or her review93
and approval and thereafter make available to the General Assembly an amended state94
plan a report on the work of the advisory council. Prior to submitting an amended state95
H. B. 571
- 4 - 24 LC 33 9396/AP
plan, the advisory council shall evaluate the latest data and statistics showing the impact96
of dementia on the State of Georgia, review a summary of the progress and barriers97
toward implementation of the goals of the current state plan, and review any other98
information deemed relevant by the advisory council to identify necessary amendments99
to the current state plan. The published state plan shall include the underlying data and100
analysis and the goals identified to achieve the purposes set out in this article. This report101
shall include a summary of the progress report toward implementation of the state plan102
and recommendations for amendments to the state plan. If the advisory council103
determines that amendments need to be made to the state plan, an amended Georgia104
Alzheimer's and Related Dementia State Plan may be presented to the Governor for105
review and approval.106
(2) Starting on January 1, 2025, and repeating every four years thereafter, the advisory107
council shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a report detailing the108
latest data and statistics showing the impact of dementia on the State of Georgia and a109
summary of the progress toward the goals identified in the state plan.110
(g) The department shall staff a position for the Georgia Alzheimer's and Related111
Dementias State Plan; such position shall be the state plan coordinator. The state plan112
coordinator shall assist the chairperson and advisory council on council related activities,113
coordinating the advisory council meetings, and coordinating and serving as a liaison114
between the work groups and the advisory council, and other associated duties as assigned115
by the department. The state plan coordinator shall ensure that the progress report is116
published pursuant to subsection (f) of this Code section.117
(h) The advisory council members shall serve in one or more of the Georgia Alzheimer's118
and Related Dementias State Plan work groups as described in the goals of the state plan. 119
These work groups are to be composed of volunteers and individuals interested in dementia120
and shall meet between the quarterly meetings to develop the priorities from paragraph (1)121
H. B. 571
- 5 - 24 LC 33 9396/AP
of subsection (b) of this Code section to present recommendations to the full advisory
122
council at its quarterly meetings.123
(i) Members shall serve without compensation, although each member of the advisory124
council shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of his or her125
duties from funds available to the advisory council; provided, however, that any legislative126
member shall receive the allowances authorized by law for legislative members of interim127
legislative committees and any members who are state employees shall be reimbursed for128
expenses incurred by them in the same manner as they are reimbursed for expenses in their129
capacities as state employees."130
SECTION 2.131
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.132
H. B. 571
- 6 -