SESSION OF 2025
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON SENATE BILL NO. 88
As Recommended by Senate Committee on
Public Health and Welfare
Brief*
SB 88 would amend the Long-term Care Ombudsman
Act to require the State Long-term Care Ombudsman (LTC
Ombudsman) to include Alzheimer’s and other dementia
(collectively referred to herein as “dementia”) training in the
prescribed and provided training, as specified in the bill. The
bill would require the training to address the needs and rights
of long-term care residents with dementia, include strategies
to care for and address the specific issues encountered by
such residents, and include a list of specific topics to be
addressed in such training. The bill would also make
technical amendments.
LTC Ombudsmen Training Requirement
The bill would require the LTC Ombudsman to include in
the prescribed and provided training specific dementia care
training. [Note: Current law requires the LTC Ombudsman to
prescribe and provide training to regional long-term care
ombudsmen, employees of the Office of the Long-term Care
Ombudsman (Office) who have successfully completed
ombudsman training and who represent the Office as a
designated ombudsman, and volunteer ombudsman
(collectively referred to as “ombudsmen”).]
Training Topics
The bill would require that the training provided to
ombudsmen pertaining to the needs and rights of long-term
____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
https://klrd.gov/ care residents with dementia and the strategies to care for
and address issues experienced by such residents include,
but not be limited to, the following topics:
●Understanding the warning signs and symptoms of
dementia;
●Knowledge of person-centered dementia care;
●Effectively communicating with individuals living
with dementia;
●Recognizing behavioral symptoms, including
alternatives to physical and chemical restraints for
residents;
●Addressing specific threats to resident’s safety,
such as wandering;
●Referring residents’ care partners and families to
accurate and up-to-date sources of information,
support, and resources regarding dementia; and
●Protocols for connecting individuals living with
dementia to local care resources and professionals
skilled in dementia care to encourage cross-referral
and reporting regarding incidents of abuse.
Background
The bill was introduced by the Senate Committee on
Public Health and Welfare at the request of Senator Blasi on
behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association.
Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare
In the Senate Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by the LTC Ombudsman, a nurse practitioner, a
representative of the Alzheimer’s Association, a volunteer
community educator with the Alzheimer’s Association, and a
2- 88 private citizen. The conferees generally stated the benefits of
dementia care training for ombudsmen as they advocate for
the rights and overall well-being of individuals residing in
adult care homes. The LTC Ombudsman provided
information regarding the federally required training for initial
certification for ombudsmen that includes the topic of
Alzheimer’s and related dementia, noting and recommending
the bill be amended to better align with the Office’s mission
and the values of preserving all resident rights.
Written-only proponent testimony was provided by
representatives of Kansas Advocates for Better Care,
LeadingAge Kansas, a former LTC ombudsman, and six
private citizens.
No other testimony was provided.
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, the Kansas Department for Aging and
Disability Services indicates enactment of the bill would have
no fiscal effect on the agency.
The Department of Administration states that if the LTC
Ombudsman would be allowed to provide the training, there
would be no additional fiscal effect for enactment of the bill.
However, if the LTC Ombudsman would be required to bring
in an outside provider, there would be costs of hiring a
consultant and hosting an educational event.
Long-term Care Ombudsman Act; State Long-term Care Ombudsman; Alzheimer's
disease; dementia; memory care training; regional long-term care ombudsman;
ombudsman volunteer
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